Studies on Augmenting the Growth-inhibition Activity of α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes and Ketones against Rhodotorula gracilis

Abstract

The growth-inhibition activity of 2-alkenals (1a~h), bisenals (2a~o), ω-hydroxyalkadienals (3a~o), ω-hydroxy-2-alkenals (4a~e), an enon-enal (5a), bisenones (5b~h) and vinylketones (6, 7) against Rhodotorula gracilis was compared. In the case of the bisenals and bisenones, enhanced activity compared with the monoenals (1a~g) and vinylketones (6, 7), respectively, was observed. Both compounds showed growth-inhibition activity when the space between the carbon atoms with a formal positive charge was equivalent with thirteen to fifteen or sixteen carbon atoms. In the case of ω-hyldroxyalkadienals, higher activity than that of the monoalkenals (1a~g) and ω-hydroxy-2-alkenals (4a~e) was observed. The reason for these results are discussed.