Antitumor and antibacterial activity of novel menthyl- and bornyl-substituted 2-hydroxypropylphosphonium and arsonium salts

The reaction of (–)-menthyl/(–)-bornyl glycidyl ethers with H-triphenylphosphonium or H-triphenylarsonium triflates proceeds as a regioselective oxirane-opening at the terminal CH₂ fragment with the formation of the corresponding 2-hydroxy-3-terpenyloxypropylphosphonium or arsonium triflates. The salts thus prepared demonstrate high antimicrobial (MIC 1.9–3.9 μM S. aureus) and antitumor (IC₅₀ 0.1–1.1 μM HuTu 80) activities.