Synthesis, spectroscopic properties, crystal structures, DFT studies, and the antibacterial and enzyme inhibitory properties of a complex of Co(II) 3,5-difluorobenzoate with 3-pyridinol

A new complex, [Co(DFB)₂(3-Pyr)₂(H₂O)₂] (where DFB = 3,5-difluorobenzoate, 3-Pyr = 3-pyridinol), is synthesized and characterized using different techniques (elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction). Looking at the crystal structure of the complexes, the cobalt atom is coordinated by two nitrogen atoms from two 3-Pyr ligands, two carboxylate oxygen atoms from two DFB anions, and two oxygen atoms from two water molecules. The complex has distorted octahedral geometry around the cobalt atom center complex and crystallizes in the P2₁/n space group (monoclinic system). Geometry optimization, frequency analysis, and energy quantum chemical calculations on the complex are performed by Density Functional Theory [B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) basis set] to predict the molecular properties. The novel complex is tested against the metabolic isoenzymes human carbonic anhydrases I and II. The novel complex shows K_i values of 317.26 ± 23.25 µM against hCA I and 255.41 ± 48.05 µM against hCA II; the IC₅₀ values for these isoenzymes are 274.37 and 204.33 µM.