An antimicrobial or sanitizing composition comprising: (a) a protonated compound, said compound comprising the structure: X-Y-Z wherein X and Z are end blocking agents and Y has a structure comprising: wherein R comprises a difunctional alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkylaryl, alkylalkenyl, arylalkenyl or alkylarylalkenyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbons or -CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 -, wherein X and Z comprise an alkyl group of 1 to about 20 carbons or an alkanol group; wherein the compound comprises one or more exogenous protons introduced to reactive sites on said molecule; or X and Z are end blocking agents and Y has a structure comprising: wherein X and Z independently comprise an alkyl group of 1 to about 20 carbons or an alkanol group and n is an integer of from 1 to 20 and each R is independently selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl, an aryl, an alkenyl, an alcohol, a phenol, an enol, and - CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2; wherein the compound comprises one or more exogenous protons introduced to reactive sites on said molecule; and (b) an excipient. (a) a protonated compound, said compound comprising the structure: X-Y-Z wherein X and Z are end blocking agents and Y has a structure comprising: wherein R comprises a difunctional alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkylaryl, alkylalkenyl, arylalkenyl or alkylarylalkenyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbons or -CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 -, wherein X and Z comprise an alkyl group of 1 to about 20 carbons or an alkanol group; wherein the compound comprises one or more exogenous protons introduced to reactive sites on said molecule; or X and Z are end blocking agents and Y has a structure comprising: wherein X and Z independently comprise an alkyl group of 1 to about 20 carbons or an alkanol group and n is an integer of from 1 to 20 and each R is independently selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl, an aryl, an alkenyl, an alcohol, a phenol, an enol, and - CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2; wherein the compound comprises one or more exogenous protons introduced to reactive sites on said molecule; and X and Z are end blocking agents and Y has a structure comprising: wherein R comprises a difunctional alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkylaryl, alkylalkenyl, arylalkenyl or alkylarylalkenyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbons or -CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 -, wherein X and Z comprise an alkyl group of 1 to about 20 carbons or an alkanol group; wherein the compound comprises one or more exogenous protons introduced to reactive sites on said molecule; or wherein R comprises a difunctional alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkylaryl, alkylalkenyl, arylalkenyl or alkylarylalkenyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbons or -CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 -, wherein X and Z comprise an alkyl group of 1 to about 20 carbons or an alkanol group; wherein the compound comprises one or more exogenous protons introduced to reactive sites on said molecule; or X and Z are end blocking agents and Y has a structure comprising: wherein X and Z independently comprise an alkyl group of 1 to about 20 carbons or an alkanol group and n is an integer of from 1 to 20 and each R is independently selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl, an aryl, an alkenyl, an alcohol, a phenol, an enol, and - CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2; wherein the compound comprises one or more exogenous protons introduced to reactive sites on said molecule; and wherein X and Z independently comprise an alkyl group of 1 to about 20 carbons or an alkanol group and n is an integer of from 1 to 20 and each R is independently selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl, an aryl, an alkenyl, an alcohol, a phenol, an enol, and - CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2; wherein the compound comprises one or more exogenous protons introduced to reactive sites on said molecule; and (b) an excipient.