Twelve compounds of mono methyl and symmetrical dimethyl substituted benzhydrol and benzophenone were synthesized using standard synthetic procedures and screened for possible antimicrobial activity against thirteen known Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as two yeasts. Most benzhydrol and benzophenone derivatives under investigation demonstrated some antimicrobial activity, with ortho-methylbenzophenone, dapsone, meta-dimethylbenzophenone, and para-dimethylbenzyhydrol showing the greatest inhibition. Only four compounds, ortho-methylbenzhydrol, para-methylbenzhydrol, para-methylbenzophenone, and para-diaminobenzophenone, completely lacked antimicrobial activity. An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed a significant difference between both the microorganisms and the chemical compounds used, which may provide insight into novel compounds to combat infections in humans and animals.

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