Crystal structures of three small molecular scaffolds based on quinoline, 2-methylquinoline- 5, 8-dione, 5-hydroxy-quinaldine-6-carboxylic acid and 8-hydroxy-quinaldine-7-carboxylic acid, were characterised. 5-Hydroxy-quinaldine-6-carboxylic acid was co-crystallized with cobalt (II) chloride to form a model of divalent metal cation–ligand interactions for potential HIV integrase inhibitors. Molecular docking into active site of HIV IN was also performed ...