SYNTHESIS AND ANTIBACTERIAL EVALUATION OF NOVEL WATER-SOLUBLE ORGANICPEROXIDES

A set of new water-soluble organic peroxides has been synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity as part of an effort to develop new antibacterial agents for the treatment of acne vulgaris. T he water solubility of these new dialkyl peroxides and peroxyesters wa s achieved by incorporating either a quaternary ammonium group or a po lyethylene glycol moiety. These peroxides are effective against both g ram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and have a prolonged activity compared to that of benzoyl peroxide and other peroxide-type antisepti c agents. Among them 4-[[(tert-butylperoxy)carbonyl] benzyl] triethyla mmonium chloride and [10-(tert-butylperoxy)decyl] trimethylammonium br omide have the broadest antimicrobial spectrums. We have shown that th e oxidizing properties of the dioxy group of these compounds are respo nsible for their antibacterial activities.