Structural, physicochemical characterization and antimicrobial activities of a new tris(8-quinolinolato-κ2N,O)cobalt(III) ethanol solvate [Co (C9H6NO)3].(C2H6O)

We report herein the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of a new 8-hydroxyquinoline cobalt(III) complex ethanol solvate with formula [Co(C9H6NO)3].(C2H6O). This compound was been prepared by slow evaporation at room temperature and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, spaces group P21/n. The central cobalt ion has a slightly distorted square bipyramidal environment, coordinated by three chelating 8-hydroxyquinoline molecules. Structural cohesion is primarily established by 7C-7C interactions between the neighboring rings of quinoline groups and intermolecular hydrogen bonds O-H...O connecting the cobalt complex entities and uncoordinated ethanol molecules. The title compound has been characterized by the infrared (IR) and the UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectra. Intermolecular interactions in the crystal structure were quantified by Hirshfeld surface analysis. The band gap of the complex was calculated using solid-state reflectance spectra, and the results show that the complex acts as a semiconductor. Moreover, the new compound exhibits high antibacterial and antifungal activities, as detected by the well agar diffusion against various bacterial and fungal clinical strains. The superior inhibitory effect was observed against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata with zones inhibition of about 17.5, 17.5 and 17 mm, respectively.