Synthesis of Benzoic Acid Esters and Their Antimicrobial Activity

Esters with pronounced antimicrobial and antifungal activity were synthesized via acylation by benzoyl chloride of the natural hydroxyl-containing compounds 1-octanol, thymol, and 4-bromothymol (thymol benzoate and 4-bromothymol benzoate for the first time). The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compounds was determined experimentally on three strains of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis 10986 and 4419 and B. licheniformis 537) and the yeast fungus Yarrowia lipolytica W29. Chloramphenicol was chosen as the reference drug for testing the antibacterial activity of the synthesized compounds. Clotrimazole was used as the reference drug in mycostatic tests. Antimicrobial and antifungal tests of the synthesized compounds showed positive results, which opened up possibilities for further research of these compounds as antifungal and antibacterial drugs devoid of the toxicity inherent in benzoic acid.