Rational design of antimicrobial agents: antifungal activity of alk(en)yl dihydroxybenzoates and dihydroxyphenyl alkanoates.

A homologous series (C3-C14) of each alkyl 3,4- and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoates, and 3,4- and 3,5-dihydroxyphenyl alkanoates exhibit similar antifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Their nonyl derivatives exhibit the most potent antifungal activity against this yeast with the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) in the range between 12.5 and 50 microg/mL. In addition, various 3,4-dihydroxybenzoates, possessing different side chains, namely unsaturated, branched and alicyclic were synthesized and their activity was compared.