Compound, use and preparation

A compound selected from

• 2-methylaminocarbonyl-1-thiocyanatocyclopent-1-ene,
• the sodium salt of 2-methylaminocarbonyl-1-thiosulphatocyclopent-1-ene,
• the sodium salt of 2-butylaminocarbonyl-1-thiosulphatocyclopent-1-ene,
• the sodium salt of 2-hexylaminocarbonyl-1-thiosulphatocyclopent-1-ene,
• the sodium salt of 2-octylaminocarbonyl-1-thiosulphatocyclopent-1-ene, or
• 1-tertiary butyldithio-2-methylaminocarbonylcyclopentene.

A composition comprising a carrier and a compound of general formula I ##STR12## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together represent a polymethylene chain having 3 or 4 carbon atoms or a polymethylene chain having 3 or 4 carbon atoms substituted by at least one lower alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;

• R.sup.3 is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyl substituted with at least one atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and halogen;
• X represents cyano, a group --SO.sub.3 M or a group --S--R.sup.4 ;
• M represents a cation having a valency and being in an amount to give a neutral compound;
• and
• R.sup.4 represents hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyl substituted with at least one atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and halogen,

A method for inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms on, or in, a medium, which comprises treating the medium with a compound of general formula I ##STR13## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together represent a polymethylene chain having 3 or 4 carbon atoms or a polymethylene chain having 3 or 4 carbon atoms substituted by at least one lower alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;

• R.sup.3 is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyl substituted with at least one atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and halogen;
• X represents cyano, a group --SO.sub.3 M or a group --S--R.sup.4 ;
• M represents a cation having a valency and being in an amount to give a neutral compound;
• and
• R.sup.4 represents hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyl substituted with at least one atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and halogen,

A method for inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms on, or in, a medium, which comprises treating the medium with a compound which is

• 2-methylaminocarbonyl-1-thiocyanatocyclopent-1-ene,
• the sodium salt of 2-methylaminocarbonyl-1-thiosulphatocyclopent-1-ene,
• the sodium salt of 2-butylaminocarbonyl-1-thiosulphatocyclopent-1-ene,
• the sodium salt of 2-hexylaminocarbonyl-1-thiosulphatocyclopent-1-ene,
• the sodium salt of 2-octylaminocarbonyl-1-thiosulphatocyclopent-1-ene, or
• 1-tertiarybutyldithio-2-methylaminocarbonylcyclopentene.

A medium susceptible to microbial attack comprising a compound having the formula ##STR14## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together represent a polymethylene chain having 3 or 4 carbon atoms or a polymethylene chain having 3 or 4 carbon atoms substituted by at least one lower alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;

• R.sup.3 represents hydrogen, hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyl substituted with at least one atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and halogen,
• X represents cyano, --SO.sub.3 M or --S--R.sup.4 ;
• M represents a cation having a valency and being in an amount to give a neutral compound;
• and
• R.sup.4 represents hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyl substituted with at least one atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and nitrogen;
• said compound of formula I being present in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of micro-organisms on, or in, said medium.