Syntheses and antibacterial activity of new N-halamine compounds

The syntheses of three new N,N'-dihalamine compounds in the class of tetramethylimidazolidinones are described. The stabilities and disinfection efficacies against Staphylococcus aureus of the compounds in water solution are compared with those for 3-chloro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolidinone which has been studied extensively in recent years in these laboratories and elsewhere. The new compounds exhibit considerable promise as general-purpose disinfectants, particularly in applications for which long-term stability is necessary.