Synthesis, structure and antimicrobial activities of meso silver(I) histidinate [Ag2(D-his)(L-his)]n (Hhis = histidine) showing different self-assembly from those of chiral silver(I) histidinates

► Reaction of solutions of chiral silver(I) histidinates, D-2 and L-2 gave achiral DL-1. ► DL-1 showed that meso-form dimer units were connected by Ag…Ag contacts. ►Structure of DL-1 was different from those of chiral polymers, D-3 and L-3. ►The insoluble polymer DL-1 inhibited the growth of bacteria and yeast moderately.