Structural functions of antimicrobial long-chain alcohols and phenols.

Antimicrobial activity of a series of long-chain alcohols and common naturally occurring alcohols were tested against 15 selected microorganisms in order to gain new insights into their structural functions. The maximum activity seems to depend on the hydrophobic chain length from the hydrophilic hydroxyl group, and also the microorganisms being tested. The results obtained with the alcohols exhibit a generally applicable rule to many other compounds.