Ozonolysis of neem oil: preparation and characterization of potent antibacterial agents against multidrug resistant bacterial strainsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c7ra00574a

Neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, is endowed with relevant biological properties and its oil contains unsaturated fatty acids that are susceptible to structural modification by oxidative processes such as ozonolysis to form peroxides. Therefore, the aim of this work was the synthesis, physicochemical characterization, study of thermal behavior, and evaluation of the antimicrobial potential of neem ozonated oils. The ozonolysis reaction was performed over different periods of time, in the presence or absence of water at an ozone concentration of 63 mg L −1 O 3 /O 2 . The samples were characterized by 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy, acid and iodine values and, DSC and TG/DTG thermal analyses. Additionally, quantitative 1 H NMR spectroscopy was a very successful and useful tool to determine the unsaturation degree of samples. The products showed excellent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in comparison to other ozonated oils reported in the literature, with an MIC of