Cobalt(II) chloride, p.a., anhydrous, ≥ 98.0% (Sigma-Aldrich); Isonicotinamide, p.a, 99% (Sigma-Aldrich); Zinc, granular, 30 - 100 mesh, 99% (Sigma-Aldrich); Sodium Tetrafluoroborate, 99% (Sigma-Aldrich); MUELLER-HILTON AGAR (OXOID).

0.4804 g (0.0037 mol) of CoCl₂ were solubilized in 5 ml of distilled water, then immediately 1.3556 g of isonicotinamide (0.0111 mol) were dissolved in 10 mL of the same solvent and added to the beaker containing the cobalt(II) chloride solution. To this mixture, zinc amalgam [15] was added and placed under constant stirring for 1.5 h. Thereafter, the resulting solution was filtered and to the supernatant was added 0.8125 g of NaBF₄ (0.0074 mol), dissolved in 1 ml of distilled water. Finally, the mixture was refrigerated in an ice bath, and after 4 days the precipitate was filtered and put in a desiccator. Average yield: 70%.

The determination of the stoichiometry of the compound was performed through minimal calculation formula from the thermogravimetric curve, as well as by studying the thermal behavior. The complex salt was also characterized by spectroscopy in the medium-infrared region, and by solubility tests and other qualitative tests. Thermoanalytical Techniques: The TG/DTG and TG-DSC curves were obtained on Mettler Toledo TGA/DSC 1 equipment. The system was calibrated following the specifications provided by the manufacturer. The analyses were obtained in α-Al₂O₃ crucible (70 μL), with a sample mass of approximately 5 mg, a heating rate of 20˚C∙min⁻¹, in dry air at 60 mL∙min⁻¹ flow and range temperature of 30˚C - 1000˚C. Medium FT-IR Infrared Spectroscopy: The spectra in the infrared region were acquired in a Perkin Elmer Model 100 Fourier transform spectrometer, with a resolution of 4 cm⁻¹ in the region 4000 cm⁻¹ - 600 cm⁻¹ using the reflectance accessory for attenuated total reflection technique (ATR) with germanium crystal (Ge).

The microorganisms used in the assays were enteropathogenic, E. coli and S. mutans, both provided by the ATCC (American Type Culture Collection). The antibiotic used as a positive control was gentamicin 10 μg/(G5427) manufactured in July 2016, provided by Sensifar.

S. mutans (ATCC®25175™) was used and stored at -70˚C. The stock culture was maintained in semi-solid agar in the absence of light. From this stock culture 24 hours before the test, subcultures were performed in tubes containing 8 ml TSB (Trypic Soy Broth-DIFCO) and incubated in an incubator at 37˚C for 24 h.

E. coli (EPEC) serotype O111: H−Al−, eae+, eaf+, bfp+ was used, conserved at 70˚C. The stock culture was maintained in semi-solid agar in the absence of light. From this stock culture 24 h before the test, subcultures were performed in tubes containing 8 ml TSB (Trypic Soy Broth - DIFCO) and incubated in an incubator at 37˚C for 24 h.

The preparation of the Müller-Hinton agar medium was made according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) [16] and the disk and well technique was performed according to the same, with adaptations. In the antimicrobial assays, plaques were inoculated with the S. mutans and E. coli bacteria, wells were prepared for each active ingredient alone (CoCl₂, [Co(H₂O)(isn)₃](BF₄)₂ and isonicotinamide). A gentamicin disk was used as a positive control for both bacteria. In the Petri dishes, with the solid medium already inoculated with the microorganisms, wells were prepared to receive the material to be analyzed. The masses used in the analyses were 0.0210 g CoCl₂, 0.1000 g [Co(H₂O)(isn)₃](BF₄)₂ and 0.0593 g isonicotinamide, equivalent to the stoichiometric ratio of 1:1:3 mol. The readings were made after 48 h and the results of the analyses were expressed as a function of the diameter of the inhibition halos, in millimeters, with the aid of a ruler.

In the curves referring to the TG-DTG and TG-DSC analyses of isonicotinamide in its free form, it can be observed in Figure 1 that it presented a single mass-loss step (160˚C - 290˚C) with the probable maximum loss rate at 282˚C. Three peaks can be seen in DSC, where the first refers to the polymorphic transition at about 120˚C [17] [18] and the second and third peaks indicate fusion followed by evaporation.

The thermal decomposition steps of the compound [Co(H₂O)_x(isn)_y](BF₄)_z can be seen in Table 1. As can be seen, the synthesized compound exhibited thermal stability up to 118˚C and showed five consecutive mass losses.

All thermal decomposition steps were followed by endothermic peaks of DSC which indicate that there was no oxidative degradation of the material.

In order to propose a thermal decomposition mechanism, the material was flame tested, where it was initially macerated and then placed in a test tube. With the aid of a mercury thermometer up to 300˚C, it was possible to monitor the thermal behavior of the compound. The sprayed material was a pink/reddish color and after being heated to about 120˚C the complex salt became violet; this first change is attributed to the loss of coordinated water.

At 170˚C a gas was released, and the test tube was removed from the plate. The gas crystallized on the wall of the test tube; it was initially thought to be free

isonicotinamide because it was a white crystalline solid. This solid was removed from the whole assay and the material studied by infrared spectroscopy. The infrared spectrum of the free isonicotinamide (A) and the test tube residue (B) can be seen in Figure 2.

In the interval 270˚C - 280˚C there was the appearance of a yellowish gas that was probably the formation of NO_2(g); however, it is not possible to say whether this gas came from the −NH₂ of the amide group or from the nitrogen of the pyridine ring. Soon thereafter, the material melted to an azure blue hue (gas formation and melting occurred almost simultaneously).

At higher temperatures, it was not possible to keep up with the thermometer. Soon after the melting, the material kept the blue tone, and it was no longer possible to observe changes. After the material cooled, a solution of silver nitrate was added to the test tube, and a whitish solid appeared, which is attributed to cobalt tetrafluoroborate.

Analyzing Figure 2, it can be stated that the FTIR spectra of isonicotinamide in its free state (A) and of the crystallized white solid in the wall of the whole test are different. With this, it can be inferred that the isn has been degraded. Isonicotinamide is a primary amide exhibiting two strong bands in the region corresponding to the 3361 cm⁻¹ asymmetric, and 3179 cm⁻¹ symmetric stretch of the ʋ (N-H) amide group. In addition, the material that crystallized was characteristic of a secondary amide with only one band in the region of 3322 cm⁻¹ referring to ʋ (N−H) [19] .

The band refers to the angular deformation of isonicotinamide δ (N-H) appears at 1621 cm⁻¹; this band is superimposed by the stretches of the amide ʋ

(C=O) carbonyl at 1655 cm⁻¹, which in the spectrum appears as doublet. For the flame test, this double-deck behavior is less evident, since the band corresponding to ʋ (C=O) moved to the region of higher energy, 1681 cm⁻¹, and the band referring to the angular deformation of δ (N-H) was maintained at 1621 cm⁻¹. Both bandwidths when compared to free isn, showed is a decrease in intensity that must be attributed to the new structure of this compound. [19]

For the residue, a strong band in the region of 1543 cm⁻¹ is characteristic of a secondary amide and is attributed to the set of stretching ʋ (C-N) combined with a band of the angular deformation of the δ (N-H). With the FTIR analysis of isonicotinamide and the residue, it is possible to conclude that the thermal degradation of isonicotinamide is followed by a hydrogen substitution reaction with the formation of a secondary amide.

It is inferred that the first step of mass loss is attributed to the loss of coordinated water (118 ˚C - 155 ˚C) [11] [20] . The following three stages commenced with the loss of isonicotinamide (170˚C - 260˚C; 270˚C - 330˚C, 330˚C - 380˚C) and the last step was the counter-ion output and the CoO₄ reduction to CoO (830˚C - 930˚C) [21] [22] .

The Figure 3 demonstrates that for the minimum formula calculations, the total Δm% was used because it was not possible to determine the stoichiometry of the material using the stepwise Δm%; it is believed that the material loses mass concomitantly. The total empirical Δm% for the compound is 87.4453 and the calculated Δm%, which matches the synthesized compound, is 87.8544 for stoichiometry [Co(H₂O)(isn)₃] (BF₄)₂.

Isonicotinamide has three binding sites: the pyridine ring nitrogen, the amide group nitrogen and the carbonyl oxygen [23] [24] . Figure 4 shows the FTIR

spectra of the free ligand (isonicotinamide) and the synthesized complex salt [Co(H₂O)(isn)₃] (BF₄)₂.

The FTIR spectrum for free isonicotinamide shows bands at 3361, 3303 and 3179 cm⁻¹, which are related to the asymmetric and symmetric stretches of ʋ (N-H) of the amide group. Peaks in the region 3077 and 3065 cm⁻¹ are attributed to the ʋ (C-H) stretches of the pyridine ring. Other bands characteristic of free isn are reported at 1621 cm⁻¹, attributed to the angular deformation of δ (N-H), and at 1655 cm⁻¹ corresponding to the stretching of the carbonyl of the amide group ʋ (C=O). A band at 1390 cm⁻¹ refers to the ʋ (C-N) of the amide and those at 1595 and 994 cm⁻¹ to the stretching of the pyridine ring [23] [25] [26] .

Table 2 shows the main vibrational modes in the infrared region for the compound [Co(H₂O)(isn)₃](BF₄)₂, where we can highlight bands in the regions

Stretching (ʋ); Asymmetrical Stretching (ʋa); Symmetrical Stretching (ʋs); Angular Deformation (δ); Strong (F); average (m); weak (w).

3453, 3304 and 3181 cm⁻¹, the positions and relative intensities of the bands are altered due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between NH, water molecules and counter ion. These interactions can shift the bands to greater or lesser wave numbers [26] .

Coordination compounds having amide groups or carbonyl donors show a decrease in the wave number of these groups, indicating that they are coordinated to metals [24] [25] . For the complex, a strong band attributed to the stretches of the group ʋ (C=O), whereas the angular deformation of the δ (N−H) showed a weak band and did not exhibit a relevant variation in wave number. This change is influenced by the hydrogen-bonding dimer of the amide groups [26] .

In the literature, compounds of cobalt with isonicotinamide have the nitrogen of the pyridine ring as the binding site, and in the infrared spectra of these compounds, the bands of the ring stretches, 1595 and 994 cm⁻¹, and move to higher energy regions. In the FTIR spectrum of the synthesized complex salt we noted a band in the region of 1604 cm⁻¹, which refers to the stretching of the pyridinium ring (free isn) observed at 994 cm⁻¹ cannot be observed in the compound. Therefore, the coordination of isonicotinamide in the complex must be happening through the ring nitrogen, thus shifting the wave number to a higher energy, and the band referring to the displacement at 993.63 cm⁻¹ is being covered up by a strong and intense band that is attributed to the set of vibrations of the counter-ion BF 4 − , which moves from 965 to 1152 cm⁻¹ covering all other peaks in this area of the spectrum [25] [26] [27] .

Thus, it is proposed that isonicotinamide is coordinated to the metal center through the ring nitrogen and that amide groups are free by hydrogen bonding with other amide groups in the system.

The results of the biological activity studies are represented in graphical (Figure 5). In this work, not only was there a concern to demonstrate that the binder isn, when coordinated to the Co²⁺ metal ion, has a higher bactericidal potential, but also to show the toxicological potential of the metal in its free form.

The reason why these masses are different is that the mole ratio of the separated compounds in the case of CoCl₂ and isonicotinamide correspond to the proportions contained in the compound [Co(H₂O)(isn)₃](BF₄)₂, i.e., 1 mol of complex contains 3 mol of isn and 1 mol of CoCl₂.

For the S. mutans bacterium (Gram +), the ligand in its free form showed no inhibition halo. However, when the synthesized complex was analyzed, the inhibition diameter was identical to that of the control drug and 25% smaller than for CoCl₂. It is then proposed that, in this case, the metal ion coordinated to isn decreases the permeability of the compound in the bacterium, so decreasing the toxicity of the synthesized compound. Isonicotinamide in its free state showed an inhibition halo 5% larger than the control material for E. coli. On the other hand, the synthesized compound and CoCl₂ presented equal diameters of inhibition, corresponding to twice the activity of gentamicin.

Thus; the active ingredients CoCl₂, [Co(H₂O)(isn)₃](BF₄)₂ and isonicotinamide showed distinct results for the S. mutans and E. coli bacteria. Perhaps this is due to the difference in the chemical composition of the cell walls of these bacteria. Works by Asegbeloyin et al. [12] and Karekal et al. [28] explain the importance of the metal-binder interaction and how the chelation interferes by reducing the polarity of the central atom, which shares the positive charge with the donor electron-donor groups. This type of interaction increases the lipophilic nature of the metal ion, making it easier to penetrate the cell wall of the bacterium.

This type of interaction is common in many chelated systems where π electrons are delocalized on the chelating ring, decreasing the polarity of the metal ion, thereby increasing the lipophilicity of the complexes, preventing the free metal ion from binding to the enzymes contained in the cell wall of the bacteria [12] .

Gentamicin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, i.e., it inhibits strains of Gram- positive and -negative bacteria. The interpretation pattern is given by the zone of inhibition in millimeters (mm) and can be classified as resistant (≤12 mm), intermediate (13 - 14 mm) or sensitive (≥15 mm). As shown in Figure 5, inhibition of bacterial growth was observed for all compounds. The only exception was observed for the bacterium S. mutans, which is not sensitive to the isonicotinamide ligand, all other compounds tested have been shown to be active.