Abstract DMAP reacts readily with chloromethylcycloalkyl ethers and α-chloroethyl alkyl ethers to give stable (1a–1e) and unstable (2a–2h) pyridinium chlorides. Reaction of these chlorides with NaOH produces the corresponding 4-pyridones. All the chlorides synthesized showed antibiotic activity. Particularly high activity against microbes representing cocci, rods, fungi, and bacilli was shown by 1-cyclododecyloxymethyl-4- ...