[Relationship between cationic structure and the biological activity of cationic surface-active substances]

The paper concerns the toxicity and antimicrobial activity of the derivatives of ethylene-, hexamethylenediamine, piperidine and guanidine containing an alkyl group with 10-12 carbon atoms adjacent to nitrogen ones. Alkyl derivatives of hexamethylenediamine and guanidine exhibit less toxicity compared to those of piperidine and ethylenediamine. Antimicrobial activity of the compounds is cation is cation structure-dependent and is most pronounced in guanidine and piperidine derivatives having a wide spectrum of antimicrobial action. A series of polymethylene derivatives showed decreased antibacterial activity and emergence of an antifungal effect with increase in the number of methylene groups between nitrogen atoms.