Soft quaternary surface active agents and method of using same

Abstract

Soft quaternary surface active agents having the formula: ##STR1## wherein >N represents a tertiary open chain or cyclic aliphatic amine; wherein >N represents an unsaturated amine; wherein R represents a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 open chain or cyclo alkyl group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkoxyalkyl group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 acyloxyalkyl group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 haloalkyl group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 carboxyalkyl group, an aryl group, and a substituted aryl group, whose substituents are selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, an O--C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, an O--C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 acyl group, a nitro group, a carboxyl group, and a carboethoxy group; wherein R.sub.1 represents a C.sub.9 -C.sub.22 straight or branched alkyl group, a --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- ##STR2## group, wherein R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group, a C.sub.0 -C.sub.22 straight or branched alkyl-(CH.sub.2).sub.n ##STR3## (CH.sub.2).sub.m CH.sub.3 group, wherein n in each occurrence and m represents an integer of from 0 to 22, an A-CH.sub.2 ##STR4## CH.sub.2 -A-CH.sub.3 group, wherein A represents a C.sub.0 -C.sub.22 straight or branched alkyl group as above or a --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O) group, wherein the p represents an integer of from 0 to 22, and the residue of any naturally occurring bile acid or synthetic derivative thereof; and wherein X represents a halogen atom or any other organic or inorganic monovalent anion are disclosed. All compounds encompassed within the above-described generic formulae find use as 'soft' antibacterial agents of extremely low toxicity.