Antifungal properties of n-alkanols, alpha, omega-n-alkanediols, and omega-chloro-alpha-alkanols.

Fourteen n-alkanols (C1-C12, C14, and C16), 13 alpha,omega-n-alkanediols (C2-C12, C14, and C16), and 13 omega-chloro-alpha-alkanols (C2-C12, C14, and C16) were tested against Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, and Myrothecium verucaria in Sabouraud dextrose agar at pH 4.0 and 5.6. Toxicity to Candida blbicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Mucor mucedo was determined in the same medium at pH 5.6 and 7.0 in the absence and presence of 10% beef serum. The fungitoxicity of these alcohols was influenced by chain length and insignificantly by the pH of the medium and the presence of beef serum. The C10-member of each series was most active; the order of activity of the three groups was chloroalkanols greater than alkanols greater than alkanediols. Compared to the fatty acids, the order of fungitoxicity on a weight basis was 2-alkynoic acids greater than 2-alkenoic acids greater than omega-chloralkanols greater than alkanoic acids greater than 2-bromoalkanoic acids greater than 2-fluoroalkanoic acids greater than n-alkoxyacetic acids greater than n-alkanols greater than alpha,omega-n-alkanediols.