Synthesis and evaluation of benzylfluorenyl and 1-arylethyl quaternary ammonium salts for antimicrobial and antineoplastic activities.

A number of substituted benzyldimethyl-9-fluorenylammonium bromides (II) and 9-benzylfluorenyl-9-trimethylammonium bromides (IV) were synthesized and examined for antimicrobial and anticancer activites. Series IV showed greater antimicrobial activity than Series II while some corresponding acyclic fluorene analogs were bereft of antimicrobial activities. Significant antineoplastic activity was not found in Series II and IIV. Representative fluorenes subjected to a preliminary screen for various pharmacological activities revealed marked anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties coupled with some antihistaminic activities. The acyclic quaternary ammonium compounds demonstrated substantial pressor activites.