Antimicrobial compounds and methods for their use

1. An antimicrobial composition comprising:

(a) a protonated compound, said compound comprising the structure

X—Y-Z

wherein X and Z are end blocking agents and wherein Y comprises the structure:

where R comprises a difunctional alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkylaryl, alkylalkenyl, arylalkenyl or alkylarylalkenyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbons;

wherein X and Z comprise a structure selected from the group consisting of:

CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —

CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 —

CH 3 CH 2 —;

wherein the compound has at least one exogenous proton introduced to at least one reactive site on said compound;

wherein said compound exhibits a pH of 0.01 to 4.5 when dissolved in water at a concentration of 1 mg/ml.;

wherein said compound exhibits pH stability for at least one hour at a pH of 0.01 to 4.5;

wherein said compound has antibacterial activity at a pH of 0.01 to 4.5; and

(b) an excipient.

2. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein X and Z are different.

3. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein X and Z are the same.

4. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein R comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of:

—CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —;

—CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 —; and

—CH 2 CH 2 —.

5. The antimicrobial compound of claim 1 , wherein X and Z comprise:

CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —.

6. The antimicrobial compound of claim 5 , wherein R comprises:

—CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —.

7. The antimicrobial compound of claim 1 , wherein said protonated compound has the structure:

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the excipient comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of: emollients, lubricants, emulsifying agents,

thickening agents, and humectants.

9. An antimicrobial composition comprising:

(a) a protonated compound comprising the structure:

wherein X and Z are end blocking agents and n is an integer of from 1 to 20 and each R is independently selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl, an aryl, an alkenyl, an alcohol, a phenol, and an enol;

wherein the compound has at least one exogenous proton introduced to at least one reactive site on said compound;

wherein said compound exhibits a pH of 0.01 to 4.5 when dissolved in water at a concentration of 1 mg/ml.;

wherein said compound exhibits pH stability for at least one hour at a pH of 0.01 to 4.5;

wherein said compound has antibacterial activity at a pH of 0.01 to 4.5; and

(b) an excipient.

10. The protonated compound of claim 9 , wherein X or Z comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of:

CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —

CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 —

CH 3 CH 2 —

11. The protonated compound of claim 9 , wherein R comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of:

—CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —

—CH 2 CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 —; and

—CH 2 CH 2 —.

12. A method for treating a microbial infection comprising the step of:

administering an antimicrobial composition comprising:

(a) a protonated compound, said compound comprising the structure

X—Y-Z

wherein X and Z are end blocking agents and wherein Y comprises the structure:

wherein R comprises a difunctional alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkylaryl, alkylalkenyl, arylalkenyl or alkylarylalkenyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbons;

wherein X or Z comprises a structure selected from the group-consisting of:

CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —

CH 3 CH 2 CH 2 —

CH 3 CH 2 —;

wherein the compound has at least one exogenous proton introduced to at least one reactive site on said compound;

wherein said compound exhibits a pH of 0.01 to 4.5 when dissolved in water at a concentration of 1 mg/ml.;

wherein said compound exhibits pH stability for at least one hour at a pH of 0.01 to 4.5;

wherein said compound has antibacterial activity at a pH of 0.01 to 4.5; and

(b) an excipient.