Abstract
In a previous communication, 1 it was pointed out that there is obvious relationship between the pharmacological action and the chemical structure of certain barbituric acid derivatives, and that compounds with long alkyl groups have a shorter duration of action. The present report deals with the evaluation of 12 such compounds, all of which were prepared by Shonle, Waldo, Keltch, and Coles. 2
Typical hypnotic and anesthetic properties were observed with all the substances except one, injected intraperitoneally, in albino rats. Their minimal hypnotic doses (M.H.D.), minimal anesthetic doses (M.A.D.), and minimal lethal doses (M.L.D.) were determined, and their therapeutic indices calculated as shown in Table I. Compounds numbered 1, 2, 3, and 7 were also tested in dogs, being effective either by vein or by mouth. It is curious that compound numbered 12, 1, 3-dimethyl-butyl-ethyl barbituric acid, is devoid of any hypnotic or anesthetic action, but on the contrary, produces convulsions. The substance is also highly toxic.
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