Closing One of the Last Gaps in Polyionene Compositions: Alkyloxyethylammonium Ionenes as Fast-Acting Biocides

Alkyloxyethylammonium ionenes are reported as biocompatible biocides with a time of biocidal action within a few minutes. The presence of both ethoxyethyl and aliphatic spacers besides long alkyl chain substituents on the quaternary nitrogen atom differentiates these biocides structurally from the known polyionenes. The influence of alkyl spacer length, counter ion and length of the pendant alkyl groups on the antibacterial properties is studied. E. coli is adopted as a test organism. MIC and MBC values are determined via broth dilution methods; time-dependent tests are accomplished by determining the number of viable cells with the spread-plate method after different contact times. Structural characterization is conducted via NMR and mass spectrometry techniques.