A multicriteria ranking of organotin(IV) compounds with fungicidal properties

The application of multicriteria decision‐making methods to the results of in vitro antifungal properties of organotin compounds of the type Ph_xSnX_z (x = 2 or 3; X = O₂CC₆H₄OH, O₂CC₆H₄OCOCH₃, Cl or O₂CCH₃; z = 1 or 2) and of free 2‐hydroxybenzoic and 2‐acetoxybenzoic acids against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, Penicillium citrinum, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton violaceum have been described. Ranking information necessary to select one toxicant in preference to others and to assess the properties influencing the preference has been obtained. Patterns in the multivariate analyses suggest that cationic and anionic moieties of the toxicant play some roles in their fungicidal activities. The triphenyltin compounds were generally more active than their diphenyltin analogues, but the acetoxybenzoates were more active than the corresponding hydroxybenzoates, acetates or chlorides. Thus, triphenyltin acetoxybenzoate is up to 7.5 times as active as the corresponding acetate, which is commercially marketed as a fungicide. The results of the analyses have been discussed in the light of the mechanism of antifungal activity of organotin compounds and the potential of multivariate data analysis techniques to facilitate the screening and ranking of antifungal agents. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.