Antibacterial agents

1. A method of reducing bacterial growth on a surface, said method comprising contacting said surface with a compound having the formula:

wherein A is a phenyl group substituted with from one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 –C 4 )alkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )alkoxy, (C 1 –C 4 )haloalkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )haloalkoxy and —NR 16 R 17 , wherein R 16 and R 17 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C 1 –C 8 )alkyl and (C 1 –C 8 )heteroalkyl; and

wherein B is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl.

2. A method of treating a bacterial infection, said method comprising contacting a subject in need of such treatment with an effective amount of a compound having the formula:

wherein A is a phenyl group substituted with from one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 –C 4 )alkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )alkoxy, (C 1 –C 4 )haloalkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )haloalkoxy and —NR 16 R 17 , wherein R 16 and R 17 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C 1 –C 8 )alkyl and (C 1 –C 8 )heteroalkyl; and

wherein B is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein B is a phenyl group substituted with from one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 –C 4 )alkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )alkoxy, (C 1 –C 4 )heteroalkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )haloalkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )haloalkoxy, and halogen.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein B is a phenyl group substituted with from one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 –C 4 )alkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )alkoxy, (C 1 –C 4 )heteroalkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )haloalkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )haloalkoxy, and halogen.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein A is a phenyl group substituted with from one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 –C 4 )alkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )haloalkyl and —NR 16 R 17 ; wherein R 16 is hydrogen and R 17 is a (C 1 –C 4 )alkyl group optionally substituted with substituents selected from the group consisting of: ═O, ═NR′, ═N—OR′, —NR′R″, —OR′ and —SR′; and

wherein R′ and R″ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted (C 1 –C 8 )alkyl, heteroalkyl, unsubstituted aryl, aryl substituted with substituents selected from the group consisting of 1–3 halogens, unsubstituted alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy and aryl(C 1 –C 4 )alkyl.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein A is a phenyl group substituted with from one to three substituents selected from the group consisting of (C 1 –C 4 )alkyl, (C 1 –C 4 )haloalkyl and —NR 16 R 17 ; wherein R 16 is hydrogen and R 17 is a (C 1 –C 4 )alkyl group optionally substituted with substituents selected from the group consisting of: ═O, ═NR′, ═N—OR′, —NR′R″, —OR′ and —SR′; and

wherein R′ and R″ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted (C 1 –C 8 )alkyl, heteroalkyl, unsubstituted aryl, aryl substituted with substituents selected from the group consisting of 1–3 halogens, unsubstituted alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy and aryl(C 1 –C 4 )alkyl.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein R′ is hydrogen; and wherein R″ is an aryl group substituted with 1–3 halogens selected from the group consisting fluoro, chloro and bromo.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein R′ is hydrogen; and wherein R″ is an aryl group substituted with 1–3 halogens selected from the group consisting fluoro, chloro and bromo.

9. The method of claim 3 , wherein B is a phenyl group having 1–3 substituents selected from the group consisting of fluoro, chloro and bromo.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein B is a phenyl group having 1–3 substituents selected from the group consisting of fluoro, chloro and bromo.