Antifungal properties of alpha,omega-alkanedicarboxylic acids and their dimethyl esters.

Thirteen alpha, omega-alkanedicarboxylic acids (C2-C12, C14, and C16) and their dimethyl esters were tested against Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, and Myrothecium verrucaria in Sabourauc dextrose agar at pH 4.0 AND 5.6. Toxicity to Canadida albicans, 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 dicarboxylic acids possessed very poor to no antifungal activity against all six fungi. The fungitoxicity of the dimethyl esters to A. niger, T. viride, and M. verrucaria was C8 = C9 greater than C7 greater than C6 = C5 greater than C10 greater than C4 greater than C11 and to C. albicans, T. mentagrophytes, and M. mucedo C9 greater than C10 greater than C11 greater than C12 = C8 greater than C7 greater than C6 greater than C5 greater than C4 greater than C3. The fungitoxicity of the esters of fatty acids and alpha-omega-alkanedicarboxylic acids was influenced by chain length and not by the pH of the medium or the absence or presence of beef serum.