Dialkylamino and nitrogen heterocyclic analogues of hexadecylphosphocholine and cetyltrimetylammonium bromide: effect of phosphate group and environment of the ammonium cation on their biological activity.

A series of dialkylamino and nitrogen heterocyclic analogues of hexadecylphosphocholine and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide have been synthesized. The prepared compounds exhibit significant cytotoxic, antifungal and antiprotozoal activities. Alkylphosphocholines possess higher antifungal activity against Candida albicans in comparison with quaternary ammonium compounds. However, quaternary ammonium compounds exhibit significant higher activity against human tumor cells and Acanthamoeba lugdunensis compared to alkylphosphocholines. In addition, their haemolytic toxicity has been investigated. The relationship between structure and biological activity of the tested compounds is discussed.