Syntheses and anti-Candida activity of cobalt(II) complexes of octanedioicacid (odaH(2)) and nonanedioic acid (ndaH(2)); X-ray crystal structures of[Co(phen)(3)]oda center dot 14H(2)O and [Co(phen)(3)]nda center dot 11.5H(2)O (phen=1,10-phenanthroline)

Cobalt(II) acetate tetrahydrate reacts with octanedioic acid and nonanedioi c acid to give the cobalt(II) complexes [Co(oda)]. 3H(2)O (1) and [Co(nda)] . 4H(2)O (4), respectively. These two complexes react with an excess of 1,1 0-phenanthroline to form the tris-phenanthroline adducts [Co(phen)(3)]oda . 13H(2)O (2) and [Co(phen)(3)]nda . 10H(2)O (5). Crystals of the compositio n [Co(phen)(3)]oda . 14H(2)O (3) and [Co(phen)(3)]nda . 11.5H(2)O (6) were isolated from the respective mother liquors and the X-ray crystal structure s show a [Co(phen)(3)](2+) dication within a lattice framework provided by the uncoordinated dicarboxylate dianion and water solvate molecules. The co balt complexes inhibit the growth of the yeast Candida albicans. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.