Further Studies of Metabolic Removal of Alkyl Groups from Nitrogen in Barbituric Acid Derivatives.

Abstract

Analytical methods are descr. for the simultaneous detn. in plasma of N-ethyl barbital and barbital or N-propyl barbital and barbital. These methods were used to study the metabolic fate in the dog of the N-ethyl and N-propyl derivatives of barbital. Both of these compounds disappear slowly from the plasma. N-ethyl barbital is converted in considerable part to barbital. N-propyl barbital is converted to barbital only to a small extent. By means of methods previously developed for the simultaneous detn. of N-methyl barbital and barbital in plasma, the fate of N, N[image]-dimethyl barbital in the dog was studied. This compound is ultimately converted in large part to barbital, the first methyl group being removed much more rapidly than the second.