Vibrational spectroscopic studies of molecular associations by local anesthetics

Abstract

I.r. spectroscopic studies were performed on H-bonding for a number of local anesthetics: benzocaine, procaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, dibucaine and 3 barbiturates: phenobarbital, pentobarbital and thiopental. All the compounds have a marked tendency for self-association. When they are put into contact with systems containing H-bonds of the N.sbd.H---O.dbd. .**GRAPHIC**. N.sbd.H---N, or O.sbd.H---O types the degree of self-association decreases and new H-bonds are formed at the expense of the former. The possible consequences of this for the chemical mechanism of anesthesia in animals are briefly discussed.