# Patent

## Title
Anti-bacterial compounds

## Abstract

Ester compounds of the formula I-a




wherein R1 is selected from OH, NH2 and NH3+X−, wherein X is an inorganic anion, wherein R2 is a singly-branched saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C7-C15, wherein R5 is selected from H, and a linear saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C6-C14, and wherein R2 and R5 together have a total of 7 to 15 carbon atoms; that are useful as antibacterial or antifungal compounds in consumer products.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/CH2005/000509, filed 31 Aug. 2005, which claims the benefit of Application No. GB 0419694.5, filed 6 Sep. 2004 from which applications priority is claimed.
The present invention relates to antibacterial or anti-fungal compounds, their use in consumer products and methods of making same.
As used herein, the term “anti-bacterial” or “anti-fungal” used in connection with a compound of the present invention is intended to refer to a compound that displays bacteriostatic or bactericidal, or fungicidal or fungistatic properties, or both, depending on the condition to be prevented or treated and the concentration of compound or compounds employed.
Bacterial or fungal conditions are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi and may range from body malodour such as axillary malodour and foot odour to manifestations of the skin or scalp such as acne, Athlete's foot or dandruff. Body malodour is formed when certain compounds contained in fresh perspiration, which are essentially odourless, are catabolised by bacteria such as Staphylococci and Corynebacteria both of which genera belong to the class of gram-positive Eubacteriaceae. Regarding foot malodour, a major cause of this condition is the presence of Brevibacteria under high humidity and low aeration conditions. Acne is another skin manifestation attributed to a bacterial origin. The microorganism thought to be responsible is Propionibacterium acnes. 
Dandruff is a condition of the scalp characterized by excessive scaling and is believed to be caused by the scalp-inhabiting yeasts of the genus Malassezia furfur and Malassezia ovalis. Athlete's foot or Tinea pedis is a condition of the feet occurring especially under conditions of enhanced humidity when fungi of the genera Trichophyton and Epidermophytum floccosum colonise the skin between the toes, which results in maceration and peeling of the skin and an itching sensation.
Anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents are used in consumer products to prevent or treat a variety of conditions mentioned above.
A principal method by which anti-bacterial or anti-fungal compositions prevent or treat the aforementioned conditions employs active agents that reduce such bacterial or fungal flora on the skin or in the household. However, a problem with many known anti-bacterial agents or anti-fungal agents is that they may affect the entire microbial flora and not just the targeted micro-organism.
Many anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents are useful in treating one or more of the aforementioned conditions. Triclosan is an anti-bacterial agent used in many products, including household and personal care products. However, being a chlorinated product, its use is questioned by consumer protection organisations. Further, it has especially high activity against low odour-forming Staphylococci bacteria, and as such may create favourable conditions in which the more problematic Corynebacteria may thrive.
There have been many disclosures in the art of perfume ingredients that have anti-bacterial or anti-fungal properties. One such natural fragrance compound is Farnesol. However, the problem with using perfume ingredients as anti-bacterial agents is that, to obtain anti-bacterial effects, they must generally be employed at higher levels than one would customarily wish to use in fragrance applications. Further, even if such materials could be used to achieve an anti-bacterial effect at low levels suitable for perfumers, their volatility is often so high that they will only be effective for a short period of time before they evaporate and leave the skin.
Non-perfume compounds have been employed as anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents in household and consumer products including personal care products and products to be applied to the skin. The use of monolaurin-glycerol and other glycerol esters or glycerol mono-ethers have been described in the art.
Applicant has now found a new class of ester compounds that are odourless and that have a reasonable residence time on the skin of a user, thereby to exert a desirable anti-bacterial effect against bacteria.
Therefore the invention provides in one of its aspects a compound according to the formula I-a




wherein R1 is selected from OH, NH2 and NH3+X−, wherein X is an inorganic anion, for example Cl−, wherein R2 is a singly-branched saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C7-C15, wherein R5 is selected from H, and a linear saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C6-C14, and wherein R2 and R5 together have a total of 7 to 15 carbon atoms, and with the proviso that the ester compound is not selected from 2-ethylhexyl glycinate and ethylhexyl glycolate.

2-ethylhexyl glycinate is described in Mongkol et al., Macromolecules 1999, 7361-7369 as a starting material to prepare polydiacetylene polymers. Ethylhexyl glycolate is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,419 as an intermediate to produce antimicrobial yarn lubricants.
In another of its aspects the invention provides a compound according to the formula I-b




wherein R1 is selected from OH, NH2 and NH3+X−, wherein X is an inorganic anion, for example Cl−, and wherein R2 is a singly-branched saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C7-C15, and with the proviso that the ester compound is not selected from 2-ethylhexyl glycinate and ethylhexyl glyconate.

By “singly-branched” is meant a hydrocarbon moiety with a main carbon and one carbon chain branch.
C7-C15 specifically include C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13, C14 and C15.
Preferred compounds are compounds according to formula I wherein R2 is selected from a saturated hydrocarbon moiety; and a hydrocarbon moiety according to formula II,




wherein the bond between C1 and C2 (C1 and C2 being the carbon atoms in position 1 or 2 as indicated in formula II) is a single bond, or preferably a double bond, and R3 and R4 are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl and dodecyl.

For R3 and R4, this allows for the following combinations as indicated in table 1 and 2. Each double column indicates R2 in the first row, and the different possibilities of R3 and R4 in the following rows of each double column.











TABLE 1







R2 = C7
R2 = C8
R2 = C9
R2 = C10
R2 = C11
















R3
R4
R3
R4
R3
R4
R3
R4
R3
R4





methyl
butyl
methyl
pentyl
methyl
hexyl
methyl
heptyl
methyl
octyl


ethyl
propyl
ethyl
butyl
ethyl
pentyl
ethyl
hexyl
ethyl
heptyl


propyl
ethyl
propyl
propyl
propyl
butyl
propyl
pentyl
propyl
hexyl


butyl
methyl
butyl
ethyl
butyl
propyl
butyl
butyl
butyl
pentyl




pentyl
methyl
pentyl
ethyl
pentyl
propyl
pentyl
butyl






hexyl
methyl
hexyl
ethyl
hexyl
propyl








heptyl
methyl
heptyl
ethyl










octyl
methyl



















TABLE 2







R2 = C12
R2 = C13
R2 = C14
R2 = C15














R3
R4
R3
R4
R3
R4
R3
R4





methyl
nonyl
methyl
decyl
methyl
undecyl
methyl
dodecyl


ethyl
octyl
ethyl
nonyl
ethyl
decyl
ethyl
undecyl


propyl
heptyl
propyl
octyl
propyl
nonyl
propyl
decyl


butyl
hexyl
butyl
heptyl
butyl
octyl
butyl
nonyl


pentyl
pentyl
pentyl
hexyl
pentyl
heptyl
pentyl
octyl


hexyl
butyl
hexyl
pentyl
hexyl
hexyl
hexyl
heptyl


heptyl
propyl
heptyl
butyl
heptyl
pentyl
heptyl
hexyl


octyl
ethyl
octyl
propyl
octyl
butyl
octyl
pentyl


nonyl
methyl
nonyl
ethyl
nonyl
propyl
nonyl
butyl




decyl
methyl
decyl
ethyl
decyl
propyl






undecyl
methyl
undecyl
ethyl








dodecyl
methyl









Even more preferred are compounds according to formula I with R2 a hydrocarbon moiety according to formula II and wherein R3 and R4 are selected from the following combinations: R3=ethyl and R4=propyl, R3=butyl and R4=methyl, R3=butyl and R4=pentyl, R3=hexyl and R4=propyl, R3=hexyl and R4=heptyl, R3=octyl and R4=pentyl.
A preferred anti-bacterial effect is an effect against human skin bacteria, including typical malodour-forming bacteria present in the human axilla (including Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus), and typical malodour forming bacteria present on the human foot (including Brevibacteria).
A compound according to the present invention exerts good anti-microbial, anti-fungal and/or malodour-counteracting activity when used in consumer products, products applied in the household or on the human body, particularly when applied to the skin or scalp, for example as part of personal care product, as a part of a shampoo composition for application to the scalp in the treatment of dandruff, or as part of a composition for application to the feet of a patient in need of treatment, to treat fungal conditions of the feet, such as Athlete's Foot.
Compounds of the present invention exert a bacteriostatic effect that is comparable to or better than that of known bacteriostatic agents, for example Triclosan, glycerol esters, such as monolaurin-glycerol, known glycerol ethers, or known fragrance oils. In tests, the bacteriostatic Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the compounds ranges from 0.0005% to greater than 0.25% (weight/volume) depending on the micro-organism treated. These values, including the values for many of the common bacteria, and in particular the Corynebacteria, compare favourably with those of known glycerol mono-esters or mono-ethers, Triclosan, and a known antibacterial fragrance compound, Farnesol. Further details as to how the MIC test data are generated are provided in Example 10 below.
In addition, some compounds of the present invention exert a bactericidal effect. In tests, the anti-bacterial Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the compounds ranges from 0.0005% to greater than 0.25% (weight/volume) depending on the micro-organism treated. Further details as to how the MBC test data are generated are provided in Example 11 below.
Furthermore, some compounds of the present invention exert an fungistatic effect, in addition to their bacteriostatic or bactericidal effect, as shown in example 12.
Compounds of the present invention may be formed starting from an alcohol R2—CH2—OH, wherein R2 is as defined above. Such alcohols are either commonly available or they may be formed from easily-accessible starting materials.
Compounds of formula I with R1=OH are most conveniently prepared in one step from glycolic acid and the corresponding alcohol under acid catalysis, for example using H2SO4 and toluene.
Compounds of formula I with R1=NH2 or NH3+X− are most conveniently prepared using commercially-available tert.-butyloxycarbonyl glycine as a starting material and the ester is then prepared by reaction with a dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC)-mediated coupling reaction in presence of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP). The amine-protecting group is subsequently removed under acidic conditions. The esters of formula I are distilled, purified by chromatography or isolated without purification.
Further details of the preparative methods are disclosed in the examples herein below.
The present invention provides in another of its aspects the use of at least one compound as hereinabove described as an active agent in compositions such as consumer products for the prevention or treatment of bacterial conditions and/or fungal conditions, and/or for the elimination or suppression of malodour, particularly conditions or malodour resulting from the presence of malodour-forming bacteria on the human skin (for example, axillary malodour, foot malodour, dandruff, Athlete's foot, and acne).
Further, the invention provides a method of making a product that has at least one of an antibacterial, antifungal and malodour-counteracting effect by admixing an effective amount of an antibacterial, antifungal or malodour-counteracting compound according to the present invention into a product, preferably a consumer product.
Consumer products include household products, cosmetic and personal care products, products for use on the human body, products applied to the human skin, and perfumed consumer goods.
Cosmetic and personal care products, in particular deodorant and antiperspirant cosmetic or personal care products, include soaps, sticks, roll-ons, sprays, pump-sprays, aerosols, deodorant soaps, soap bars, powders, solutions, gels, creams, balms and lotions, eau de Cologne, and eau de toilet, deodorant soaps, shampoos, bath salt, salves, lotions, creams, and ointments.
Perfumed consumer goods include sprays, detergents and solid fragranced products such as powders, soaps, detergent powders, tissues, fabrics, room deodorizers, room deodorizing gels, and candles.
The amount of a compound employed in such a composition will depend upon the nature of the product and the condition to be treated. However, in the case of products that are applied to and left on the skin, it is preferred that a compound or mixtures of compounds be present in said compositions in an amount of about 0.1 to about 2.0% by weight, preferably about 0.1 to 1% by weight.
If a compound or a mixture of compounds is to be used in a composition intended to be applied to, and subsequently rinsed off, the skin or scalp, e.g. a shampoo composition for the treatment of dandruff, then it is preferred to use the compound or mixture of compounds in higher amount, e.g. from about 1.0 to 5.0% by weight.
Depending on the nature of the consumer product, compounds of the present invention may also be combined with art-recognised quantities of other excipients commonly employed in these products; useful selections may be found in <<CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook>>, J. M. Nikitakis (ed.), 1st ed., The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Inc., Washington, 1988, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In general, excipients may, for example, include colorants, fragrances, solvents, surfactants, colorants, opacifiers, buffers, antioxidants, vitamins, emulsifiers, UV absorbers, silicones and the like. All products can also be buffered to the desired pH using commonly-available excipients in a known manner.
Excipients in deodorant cologne may comprise ethanol and fragrance. Fragrance may be present to the extent of 1 to 10% by weight and the ethanol may be present to make up the mass to 100% by weight.
A typical ethanol-free deodorant stick may comprise polyols, such as propylene glycol; derivatives thereof, such as propylene-glycol-3-myristyl ether (for example Witconol® APM); water; a surfactant such as sodium stearate; and a fragrance. The polyol may be present to the extent of 30 to 40%; the derivatives of the polyol likewise may be present to the extent of 30 to 40%; water may be present to the extent of 10 to 20%; the surfactant may be present to the extent of 5 to 10%; and the fragrance may be present in an amount mentioned above.
A typical antiperspirant stick may comprise excipients such as ethylene glycol monostearate (e.g. from 5 to 10%); Shea butter (e.g. from 3 to 5%); Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride such as Neobee® 1053 (PVO International) (e.g. from about 12 to 15%); phytosterols such as Generol® 122 (Henkel) (e.g. from about 3 to 7%); Dimethicone (DC 345) (e.g. from 30 to 40%); aluminium sesquichlorohydrate (for example from about 15 to 20%); and a fragrance, for example from 1 to 10%.
An antiperspirant aerosol may contain as excipients ethanol, typically to the extent of 10 to 15%; zirconium aluminium tetrachlorohydrate, for example from 3 to 5%; Bentone 38, for example from 1 to 2%; fragrance in an amount aforementioned; and a hydrocarbon propellant, such as S-31, for example for up to 100%.
An antiperspirant pump composition may contain as excipients aluminium sesquichlorohydrate, for example from 15 to 25%; water, for example from 50 to 60%; an octylphenol ethoxylate non-ionic surfactant such as Triton X-102 (Union carbide), for example from 1 to 3%; dimethyl Isosorbide (ICI), for example from 15 to 25%; and a fragrance in an amount as aforementioned.
All percentages mentioned above are in wt %.
In all the above compositions, the compound or mixtures thereof may be used as the sole active agent, or it may be used in conjunction with other active agents such as Triclosan (CAS 3380-34-5) or other commercially available anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents, or with known fragrance oils having anti-bacterial or anti-fungal properties.
There now follows a series of non-limiting examples that serve to illustrate the invention.


EXAMPLE 1
Overview Synthesis of Compounds According to Formula I
Compounds of formula I are most conveniently prepared by the transformations shown in Scheme 1. Compounds of formula I with R1=OH are accessible in one step from glycolic acid and the corresponding alcohol under acid catalysis (Scheme 1a). In the case of compounds of formula I with R1=NH3+X−, commercial tert.-butyloxycarbonyl glycine is used as starting material and the ester effected with a dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC)-mediated coupling reaction (Scheme 1b). The amine protecting group is subsequently removed under acidic conditions. The esters of formula I are distilled, purified by chromatography or isolated without purification.




EXAMPLE 2
General Procedure (A) for the Synthesis of Glycolic Acid Esters According to Formula I with R1=OH
A stirred mixture of the alcohol (0.2 mol), glycolic acid (0.2 mol) and sulphuric acid (0.02 mol) in toluene (260 ml) is heated to reflux under Dean-Stark conditions until approximately 0.2 mol water is collected. The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature and poured into water. This mixture is extracted with tert.-butyl methyl ether and the organic layers are washed with aqueous saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate, water and brine. The combined organic phases are dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to afford the desired glycolate ester compound of formula I as a colourless oil in a yield of about 55-70%.
EXAMPLE 3
General Procedure (B) for the Synthesis of Glycine Esters according to formula I with R1=NH3+Cl−
1st step: To a stirred mixture of the alcohol (0.05 mol), tert.-butyloxycarbonyl-glycine (0.055 mol) and N,N-dimethylaminopyridine (0.04 mol) in toluene (180 ml) is added dropwise N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (0.06 mol) dissolved in toluene (50 ml) within 20 minutes at room temperature. Stirring is continued for up to 72 h at room temperature or reflux, depending on the nature of the starting alcohol. The resulting white suspension is concentrated and the residue diluted with tert.-butyl methyl ether. The white precipitate is filtered off and washed with tert.-butyl methyl ether. Then the filtrate is washed with aqueous hydrochloric acid (5%) and brine. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give the protected glycine ester.
2st step: To hydrochloric acid in ethyl acetate (0.25 mol, 3 M) was added the above crude ester (0.05 mol) at room temperature. The mixture was stirred for 2 h and then concentrated in vacuo. The desired glycine ester compound of formula I is obtained in an overall yield of 65-75% as a white solid or colourless resin.
EXAMPLES 4-6
The compounds of formula I with R1=OH shown below, together with their spectroscopic data, are prepared as described in procedure A with the starting materials chosen as will be apparent to the skilled person.
EXAMPLE 4
Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-ethyl-hexyl ester




Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-ethyl-hexyl ester
H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, coupling constants in Hz): 0.86-0.93 (6H, m, 2×CH3); 1.23-1.41 (8H, m, 4×CH2); 1.55-1.65 (1H, m, CH); 2.37-2.42 (1H, br m, OH); 4.11-4.18 (4H, m, 2×CH2).
IR (νmax, cm−1, ATR): 3453brw, 2960m, 2930m, 1739s, 1462m, 1201s, 1094s, 996m.
MS [m/z (EI)]: 189 (M+H+, <1%), 157 (M+−CH2OH, 2), 112 (13), 97 (3), 90 (12), 83 (27), 70 (74), 57 (100), 43 (59), 41 (51).
EXAMPLE 5
Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-butyl-octyl ester




Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-butyl-octyl ester
H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, coupling constants in Hz): 0.83-0.93 (6H, m, 2×CH3); 1.18-1.35 (16H, m, 8×CH2); 1.62-1.70 (1H, m, CH); 2.40 (1H, t, J5, OH); 4.11 (2H, d, J6, CH2); 4.15 (2H, d, J5, CH2).
IR (νmax, cm−1, ATR): 3459brw, 2926s, 2858m, 1740s, 1203s, 1096s, 933w.
MS [m/z (EI)]: 245 (M+H+, <1%), 213 (M+−CH2OH, 11), 168 (12), 126 (14), 111 (44), 98 (25), 85 (32), 71 (47), 57 (100), 43 (77), 41 (51).
EXAMPLE 6
Hydroxy-acetic 2-hexyl-decyl ester




Hydroxy-acetic 2-hexyl-decyl ester
H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, coupling constants in Hz): 0.85-0.93 (6H, m, 2×CH3); 1.18-1.35 (24H, m, 12×CH2); 1.60-1.69 (1H, m, CH); 2.39-2.50 (1H, br, OH); 4.11 (2H, d, J6, CH2); 4.15 (2H, s, CH2).
IR (νmax, cm−1, ATR): 3468brw, 2924s, 2855m, 1740m, 1204s, 1096s, 995w.
MS [m/z (EI)]: 301 (M+H+, 9%), 269 (M+−CH2OH, 39), 224 (25), 154 (26), 139 (59), 111 (95), 97 (86), 83 (86), 71 (87), 57 (98), 43 (100), 41 (94).
EXAMPLES 7-9
The compounds of formula I-b with R1=NH3+X− shown together with their spectroscopic data below are prepared as described in procedure B with the starting materials chosen as will be apparent to the skilled person.
EXAMPLE 7
2-Ethyl-hexyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride




2-Ethyl-hexyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride
H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, coupling constants in Hz): 0.80-0.93 (6H, m, 2×CH3); 1.21-1.41 (8H, m, 4×CH2); 1.53-1.63 (1H, m, CH); 3.95-4.05 (2H, m, CH2); 4.06-4.14 (2H, m, CH2); 9.49-9.71 (3H, br, NH3+).
IR (νmax, cm−1, ATR): 2958m, 2929m, 1746s, 1222s, 1055m, 905m.
MS [m/z (EI)]: 188 (M−HCl+H+, 15%), 157 (34), 149 (13), 112 (18), 36 (6), 30 (100).
EXAMPLE 8
2-Butyl-octyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride




2-Butyl-octyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride
H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, coupling constants in Hz): 0.82-0.95 (6H, m, 2×CH3); 1.19-1.39 (16H, m, 8×CH2); 1.55-1.68 (1H, m, CH); 3.99 (2H, d, J4, CH2); 4.07 (2H, d, J8, CH2); 8.54-8.69 (3H, br, NH3+).
IR (νmax, cm−1, ATR): 2926s, 2857m, 1748s, 1228s, 1121m, 957m.
MS [m/z (EI)]: 244 (M−HCl+H+, 2%), 213 (4), 168 (3), 76 (15), 57 (16), 43 (17), 36 (5), 30 (100).
EXAMPLE 9
2-Hexyl-decyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride




2-Hexyl-decyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride
H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, coupling constants in Hz): 0.83-0.92 (6H, m, 2×CH3); 1.19-1.35 (24H, m, 12×CH2); 1.59-1.68 (1H, br, CH); 3.92-4.00 (2H, m, CH2); 4.07 (2H, d, J6, CH2); 8.59-8.73 (3H, br, NH3+).
IR (νmax, cm−1, ATR): 2923s, 2854m, 1748m, 1226s, 1122m, 907w.
MS [m/z (EI)]: 300 (M−HCl+H+, 2%), 269 (6), 111 (7), 76 (27), 57 (20), 43 (18), 36 (5), 30 (100).
EXAMPLE 10
Bacteriostatic Activity of the Compounds of the present Invention
The bacteriostatic effects of the compounds of the present invention are compared with those of known anti-bacterial agents against human skin bacteria. The results are shown below in Table 1.
The different axilla bacteria are isolated from the human axilla according to techniques known in the art, in particular according to standard microbiological practice. They are taxonomically identified by cell morphology, gram-reaction and biochemical tests included in the Api coryne test kit (BioMerieux, France). Strain Staphylococcus epidermidis Ax25 is identified by fatty acid methyl ester analysis (FAME; German type strain collection DSMZ, Germany). Escherichia coli DSM 682, Staphylococcus aureus DSM 799, and Corynebacterium xerosis DSM 20170 are obtained from the German-type strain collection.
The strains are maintained on Tryptic soy broth plates, this standard medium being supplemented with 5 g per litre of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monooleate (TweenTM 80). Plates are incubated at 36° C. for a period 48 hours. The bacteria are then swabbed from the plates and suspended in 4 ml of Müller-Hinton broth supplemented with 100 mg of TweenTM 80 per litre (MH-TweenTM) and incubated again at 36° C. for 16 hours. Following incubation, the bacterial suspensions are diluted in MH-TweenTM to obtain a final cell density of 107 colony forming units per ml. These diluted suspensions of the different test organisms are distributed to different columns of a microtiter plate, 100 μl per well. The test compounds are dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at various test concentrations and 2.5 μl of these different DMSO solutions are added to the different wells of the test plates. The plates are covered with plastic films and incubated for 24 h at 36° C. with shaking at 250 rpm. The turbidity developing in the microtiter plates is then examined after 24 h to determine microbial growth. The minimal concentration of test compounds inhibiting the growth of an organism by at least 80% is determined as the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC).







TABLE 1







Shows results for the MIC for human skin bacteria and standard bacterial reference strains of compounds


of the invention and some comparative anti-bacterial agents. Data is expressed in % (weight/volume).














S. epidermidis
C. xerosis
Corynebacterium
Corynebacterium
Escherichia coli
Staphylococcus



Ax 25
DSM 20170
Ax 7
Ax 15
DSM 682
aureus DSM 799

















1.
0.125
0.125
0.125
0.125
0.125
0.25


2.
0.008
0.008
0.008
0.004
>0.25
0.031


3.
≦0.0019
>0.25
0.25
0.0039
>0.25
>0.25


4.
0.063
0.031
0.031
0.031
0.063
0.063


5.
0.002
0.002
0.001
0.001
0.002
0.008


6.
0.0005
0.001
0.0005
0.0005
0.002
0.002


C1
<0.008
0.032
0.016
0.125
>0.5
0.008


C2
0.125
0.063
0.125
0.125
0.063
0.063


C3
0.016
0.008
0.014
0.016
>1
0.016


C4
0.000015
0.0015
0.003
0.003
0.0005
0.0005





1. = Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-ethyl-hexyl ester


2. = Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-butyl-octyl ester


3. = Hydroxy-acetic 2-hexyl-decyl ester


4. = 2-Ethyl-hexyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride


5. = 2-Butyl-octyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride


6. = 2-Hexyl-decyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride


C1 = Dodecanoic acid 2,3-dihydroxy-propyl ester: (1-mon-lauroyl-glycerol),


C2 = a commercial glycerol mono-ether: 3-(2-Ethyl-hexyloxy)-propane-1,2-diol,


C3 = Farnesol,


C4 = Triclosan






Ax 25 was identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis by FAME analysis. Ax 7 is identified as Corynebacterium group G and Ax 15 as Corynebacterium jeikeium with the Api Coryne test kit. The latter two strains are isolated from the axilla of human volunteers and are able to generate axilla malodor when incubated in vitro with human axilla secretions.
From Table 1 it is apparent that, for all strains analysed, compounds of the present invention are better performing than the mono-ether (C2) and are comparable and better than the mono-ester (C1) and Farnesol (C3), which commonly are used in perfumes, personal care products and perfumed consumer goods. The compounds are particularly active against the odor forming skin bacteria and some of the compounds are more active then the chlorinated antibacterial compound Triclosan when tested against the malodor forming bacteria Ax7 and Ax15.
EXAMPLE 11
Bactericidal Activity of the Compounds of the Present Invention
The bactericidal effects of the compounds of the present invention are further tested. The results are shown below in Table 2. The bacteria are grown, harvested and diluted under the same conditions as described in example 10 above and added to microtiter plates (100 μl per well), each well containing 2.5 μl of the different DMSO solutions as described above. After 60 min incubation, 0.5 μl of the bacterial culture from each well (corresponding to 5×103 cfu in the control treatment) is transferred to a fresh microtiter plate which contained 100 μl per well of fresh medium. The plates are covered with plastic films and incubated for 24 h at 36° C. with shaking at 250 rpm. The turbidity developing in the microtiter plates is then examined after 24 h to determine microbial growth. The minimal concentration of test compounds which completely killed the bacterial inoculum is determined as the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC).







TABLE 2







Shows the MBC for human skin bacteria and standard bacterial reference strains


of compounds of the invention. Data is expressed in % (weight/volume).














S. epidermidis
C. xerosis
Corynebacterium
Corynebacterium
Escherichia coli
Staphylococcus



Ax 25
DSM 20170
Ax 7
Ax 15
DSM 682
aureus DSM 799

















1.
0.25
0.125
0.125
0.125
n.d.
n.d.


2.
>0.25
>0.25
>0.25
>0.25
n.d.
n.d.


3.
>0.25
>0.25
>0.25
>0.25
>0.25
>0.25


4.
0.25
>0.25
0.25
0.25
0.125
0.25


5.
0.004
0.004
0.002
0.002
0.004
0.004


6.
0.002
0.002
0.0005
0.0005
0.016
0.004





1. = Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-ethyl-hexyl ester


2. = Hydroxy-acetic acid 2- butyl-octyl ester


3. = Hydroxy-acetic 2-hexyl-decyl ester


4. = 2-Ethyl-hexyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride


5. = 2-Butyl-octyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride


6. = 2-Hexyl-decyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride






From Table 2 it is apparent that for all strains analysed, some compounds of the present invention have not only a bacteriostatic activity, but also the inherent potential to completely kill (i.e. bactericidal) an inoculum of 3×103 cfu within 60′ contact time at a very low test concentration. The compounds are particularly active against the odor forming skin bacteria.
EXAMPLE 12
Antifungal Activity of the Compounds of the Present Invention
The fungistatic effects of the compounds of the present invention are tested against the standard strains Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The results are shown below in Table 3. The strains are maintained on Potato dextrose agar plates. Plates are incubated at 30° C. for a period of 72 hours. The fungal inoculum is then swabbed from the plates and suspended in Saboureaud liquid medium and incubated again at 30° C. for 24 hours in the case of C. albicans. For A. niger the inoculum containing the fungal spores is directly harvested from the agar plates and suspended in distilled water. The inoculum is then diluted in Saboureaud liquid medium to obtain a final cell density of 105 colony forming units per ml. The test for fungistatic activity using differently concentrated DMSO stock solutions in microtiter plates is then conducted as described in example 10 for the bacteriostatic activity. The turbidity developing in the microtiter plates is then examined after 48 h to determine fungal growth. The minimal concentration of test compounds inhibiting the growth of an organism by at least 80% is determined as the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC).







TABLE 1







Shows results for the MIC for standard fungal strains.


Data is expressed in % (weight/volume).










C. albicans
A. niger













1.
0.0625
0.125


5.
0.0078
0.0039


6.
0.0156
0.002





1. = Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-ethyl-hexyl ester


5. = 2-Butyl-octyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride


6. = 2-Hexyl-decyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium chloride






EXAMPLE 13
Aerosol Spray














I
II


















Octyldodecanol
0.50
0.50


Propylene Glycol
1.00
1.00


Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-ethyl-hexyl ester
0.50
—


2-Hexyl-decyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium
—
0.50


chloride


Perfume
q.s.
q.s.


Ethanol
ad 100.00
ad 100.00









The mixed liquid phase is filled with a mixture of propane-butane (2:7) in proportion of 39:61 in a spray can.
EXAMPLE 14
Roll-On Gel














I
II


















Ethanol
50.00
50.00


Polyoxyethylen-(20)-sorbitanmonolaurat
2.00
2.00


Hydroxyethylcellulose
0.50
0.50


2-Hexyl-decyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium
0.50
—


chloride


Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-butyl-octyl
—
0.30


ester


Aluminium Chlorohydrat
10.00
10.00


Perfume
q.s.
q.s.


Water
ad 100.00
ad 100.00









EXAMPLE 15
Antiperspirant Stick














I
II


















Stearylalkohol
25.00
20.00


PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
2.00
3.00


Cyclomethicone
ad 100
ad 100


Hydroxy-acetic acid 2-butyl-octyl ester
0.50
—


2-Butyl-octyloxycarbonylmethyl-ammonium
—
0.50


chloride


Aluminium Chlorohydrat, Powder
20.00
25.00


Perfume
q.s.
q.s.

## Claims

1. A compound according to the formula I-a



wherein R1 is selected from OH, NH2 and NH3+X−, wherein X is an inorganic anion, wherein R2 is a singly-branched saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C7-C15, wherein R5 is selected from H, and a linear saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C6-C14, and wherein R2 and R5 together have a total of 7 to 15 carbon atoms, and with the proviso that the ester compound is not selected from 2-ethylhexyl glycinate and ethylhexyl glycolate; optionally wherein R5 is H and the compound is according to formula I-b




wherein R1 is selected from OH, NH2 and NH3+X−, wherein X is an inorganic anion, and wherein R2 is a singly-branched saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C7-C15.

2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R 2 is saturated.

3. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R2 is a hydrocarbon moiety according to formula II,



wherein the bond between C1 and C2 (C1 and C2 being the carbon atoms in position 1 or 2 as indicated in formula II) is a single bond, or a double bond, and R3 and R4 are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl and dodecyl.

4. The compound according to claim 3 wherein the bond between C1 and C2 is a double bond.

5. The compound according to claim 4 selected from the group consisting of a compound with R3=ethyl and R4=propyl, a compound with R3=butyl and R4=methyl, a compound with R3=butyl and R4=pentyl, a compound with R3=hexyl and R4=propyl, a compound with R3=hexyl and R4=heptyl, and a compound with R3=octyl and R4=pentyl.

6. An anti-bacterial, anti-fungal or malodour-counteracting composition comprising a compound or mixture of compounds as defined in claim 1, optionally wherein the composition is selected from consumer products, household products, cosmetic and personal care products, products for use on the human body, products applied to the human skin, and perfumed consumer goods.

7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the compound or mixture of compounds is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight.

8. A composition according to claim 7 wherein the compound or mixture of compounds is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 1% by weight.

9. A composition according to claim 6 selected from consumer products, household products, cosmetic and personal care products, products for use on the human body, products applied to the human skin, and perfumed consumer goods.

10. Method of making an antibacterial, antifungal and/or a malodour-counteracting product by admixing an effective amount of an antibacterial, antifungal or malodour counteracting compound according to claim 1 to the product.

11. Method of making an antibacterial, antifungal and/or a malodour-counteracting product by admixing an effective amount of an antibacterial, antifungal or malodour counteracting compound to a product selected from cosmetic and personal care products, products for use on the human body, products applied to the human skin, and perfumed consumer goods; wherein the compound is according to the formula I-a



wherein R1 is selected from OH, NH2, and NH3+X−, wherein X is an inorganic anion, wherein R2 is a singly-branched saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C7-C15, wherein R5 is selected from H, and a linear saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C6-C14, and wherein R2 and R5 together have a total of 7 to 15 carbon atoms; optionally wherein R5 is H and the compound is according to formula I-b




wherein R1 is selected from OH, NH2 and NH3+X−, wherein X is an inorganic anion, and wherein R2 is a singly-branched saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety selected from C7-C15.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein R2 is saturated.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein R2 is a hydrocarbon moiety according to formula II,



wherein the bond between C1 and C2 (C1 and C2 being the carbon atoms in position 1 or 2 as indicated in formula II) is a single bond, or a double bond, and R3 and R4 are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl and dodecyl.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the bond between C1 and C2 is a double bond.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of a compound with R3=ethyl and R4=propyl, a compound with R3=butyl and R4=methyl, a compound with R3=butyl and R4=pentyl, a compound with R3=hexyl and R4=propyl, a compound with R3=hexyl and R4=heptyl, and a compound with R3=octyl and R4=pentyl.

16. An antibacterial, antifungal and/or a malodour-counteracting product prepared by the method of claim 11.

17. An antibacterial, antifungal and/or a malodour-counteracting product prepared by the method of claim 12.

18. An antibacterial, antifungal and/or a malodour-counteracting product prepared by the method of claim 13.

19. An antibacterial, antifungal and/or a malodour-counteracting product prepared by the method of claim 14.

20. An antibacterial, antifungal and/or a malodour-counteracting product prepared by the method of claim 15.

21. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R1 is OH.

22. The compound according to claim 21 wherein R2 is saturated.

23. The compound according to claim 21 wherein R2 is a hydrocarbon moiety according to formula 11,




wherein the bond between C1 and C2 (C1 and C2 being the carbon atoms in position 1 or 2 as indicated in formula II) is a single bond, or a double bond, and R3 and R4 are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl and dodecyl.

24. The compound according to claim 23 wherein the bond between C1 and C2 is a double bond.

25. The compound according to claim 24 selected from the group consisting of a compound with R3=ethyl and R4=propyl, a compound with R3=butyl and R4=methyl, a compound with R3=butyl and R4=pentyl, a compound with R3=hexyl and R4=propyl, a compound with R3=hexyl and R4=heptyl, and a compound with R3=octyl and R4=pentyl.

26. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R1 is NH2.

27. The compound according to claim 26 wherein R2 is saturated.

28. The compound according to claim 26 wherein R2 is a hydrocarbon moiety according to formula II,




wherein the bond between C1 and C2 (C1 and C2 being the carbon atoms in position 1 or 2 as indicated in formula II) is a single bond, or a double bond, and R3 and R4 are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl and dodecyl.

29. The compound according to claim 28 wherein the bond between C1 and C2 is a double bond.

30. The compound according to claim 29 selected from the group consisting of a compound with R3=ethyl and R4=propyl, a compound with R3=butyl and R4=methyl, a compound with R3=butyl and R4pentyl, a compound with R3=hexyl and R4=propyl, a compound with R3=hexyl and R4=heptyl, and a compound with R3=octyl and R4=pentyl.

31. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R1 is NH3+X−.

32. The compound according to claim 31 wherein R2 is saturated.

33. The compound according to claim 31 wherein R2 is a hydrocarbon moiety according to formula II,




wherein the bond between C1 and C2 (C1 and C2 being the carbon atoms in position 1 or 2 as indicated in fomula II) is a single bond, or a double bond, and R3 and R4 are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl and dodecyl.

34. The compound according to claim 33 wherein the bond between C1 and C2 is a double bond.

35. The compound according to claim 34 selected from the group consisting of a compound with R3=ethyl and R4=propyl, a compound with R3=butyl and R4=methyl, a compound with R3=butyl and R4=pentyl, a compound with R3=hexyl and R4=propyl, a compound with R3=hexyl and R4=heptyl, and a compound with R3=octyl and R4=pentyl.

36. The composition according to claim 6 wherein R1 is OH.

37. The composition according to claim 36 wherein the compound or mixture of compounds is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight.

38. The composition according to claim 6 wherein R1 is NH2.

39. The composition according to claim 38 wherein the compound or mixture of compounds is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight.

40. The composition according to claim 6 wherein R1 is NH3+X−.

41. The composition according to claim 40 wherein the compound or mixture of compounds is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight.

42. The method according to claim 11 wherein R1 is OH.

43. The method according to claim 11 wherein R1 is NH2.

44. The method according to claim 11 wherein R1 is NH3+X−.