Patent ID: 7501542

Claim:
A compound or polycation having the formula: or salt thereof where: x is an integer ranging from 1 to about 20; l is an integer ranging from 1 to about 6; r and s, independently of one another, are 0 or 1, wherein when r is 1, the N bonded to R 1 and A 1 has a positive charge, and when s is 1, the N bonded to R 2 and A 2 has a positive charge; R A and R B , independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of H, or an alkyl, hydroalkyl or thiol-substituted alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R 1 and R 2 , independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; and A 1 and A 2 , independently of other A 1 and A 2 groups, are selected from the group consisting of a —CH(D-L) 2 and a —C(D-L) 3 group wherein D is selected from the group consisting of —CO—, —CO 2 —, —O—C—O—, —CO—N—, —O—CO—N—, —O—, and —S—, and L is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a straight chain or branched alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group having from 2 to about 22 carbon atoms wherein one or more non-neighboring —CH 2 — groups can be replaced with an O or S atom; (b) a substituted straight chain or branched alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group having from 2 to about 22 carbon atoms wherein the substituent is an aromatic, alicyclic heterocyclic or polycyclic ring and wherein one or more of the non-neighboring neighboring —CH 2 — groups of said alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group can be substituted with an O or S atom; and (c) an aromatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic and a polycyclic ring moiety.