Synthesis and antimicrobial properties of imidazolium and pyrrolidinonium salts

For the purpose of developing new disinfectants and antiseptics, we searched for compounds having high bactericidal activity against gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. Three different series of quaternary imidazolium and pyrrolidinonium salts were synthesized: series A (1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chlorides and bromides); series B (1-alkyl-2-methyl-3-hydroxyethylimidazolium chlorides); and series C (N-alkyl-N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidinonium). Series B and C were newly designed. These three series were tested to evaluate their antibacterial and antifungal properties for the first time. Seven microbial strains were used in the study: Escherichia coli KCTC1924, Salmonella typhimurium KCTC1926, Staphylococcus aureus 209 KCTC1916, Staphylococcus aureus R209 KCTC1928, Bacillus subtilis KCTC1914, Candida albicans KCTC1940, and Chlorella regularis. The antimicrobial efficiency was measured by bacterial and fungal growth inhibition expressed as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Series A and B imidazolium salts had very good antimicrobial activity against the examined Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi. Also the pyrrolidinonium salt was found to have low MIC for some of tested microorganisms. The antibacterial and antifungal active properties of the salts depend upon the structure of functional groups and the alkyl chain length in the imidazolium and pyrrolidinonium ring. Among the synthesized quaternary imidazolium and pyrrolidinonium salts, the imidazolium salts containing a long alkyl chain and the introduction of a hydroxyethyl chain and methyl group into the imidazolium ring structure leads to broad spectrum active antimicrobial agents which not only have bacteriostatic properties but could be powerful bactericides.