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A new family of surfactants, aminimides, has been screened forin vitro antimicrobial activity. These compounds are active against both bacteria and yeast, activity being a function of chain length. Maximum activity for acetimide and acrylimide amine derivatives was extablished with chain lengths of C14–C16. Homologous compounds with lower or higher chain lengths were less active. While showing low antimicrobial activity against gram negative bacteria, mixtures containing C12 and C16 gave good activity against gram negative strains without losing gram positive activity. Aminimides gave low acute LD50’s (200–400 mg/kg) when tested in mice by intraperitoneal injection.

Aminimides, a new class of surfactants, have been screened for in vitro antimicrobial activity. Greatest activity against gram (+) and yeast organisms is achieved when a chain length of C16 is reached. This generalization is true whether or not the chain length is joined to the imide or amine group. The type of functional group associated with the surfactant is less important than chain length. Gram (-) organisms do not fit this generalization, since shorter (

The newest member of the aminimide family of surfactants was screened for antimicrobial activity. The present report supports past conclusions that chain lengths of C14 or C16 gave maximum activity to the aminimide derivative. When a number of hexadecane compounds with different polar groups were compared, the aminimide exhibited wide spectrum antimicrobial activity. Although the functional group was important, the length and character of the acyl chain also help to determine antimicrobial activity. A new amide antibiotic, Cerulenin, with a 4-keto-2-enyl chain, was more active than the unsaturated isomer. Thus, both the functional grup as well as the chain length contribute to biocidal activity.