Fungicides Salicylanilide

Salicylamide, prepared by the reaction of methyl salicylate with ammonia, has mild analgesic, antiinflammatory, and antipyretic properties. Salicylanilide, prepared by heating salicylic acid and aniline in the presence of phosphorus trichloride, is used as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals and as a slimicide. fungicide, and medicament. 

There are a number of nonspecific topical drugs, some some of which have been in use for most of this century. Early therapy of superficial mycoses utilized topical fungicides such as salicylic acid, salicylanilide, iodine tincture, and even weak fungistatic compounds such as benzoic acid. Salicylic acid is mainly a keratolytic agent that also removes the softened, loosened infected epithelial layers. In combination with benzoic acid (Whitfield s ointment), it has been a useful product for years. 

Salicylanilide is especially active against fungi. As it is a practically odourless compound which does not cause coloration and is not hazardous in application, it has been used for the protection of textiles, leather, paper, plastic, paints, adhesives, etc. However, the compound is susceptible to leaching and therefore does not perform satisfactorily on material exposed outdoors. Effective addition rates are high, e.g. up to 10% in paints. Salicylanilide therefore has been widely substituted by more active and more economic microbicides. The sodium salt of salicylanilide may be used in fungicidal wall washes. 

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