This study involves compounds of the barbituric acid series are well known for their use as anesthetics and sedatives.

The purpose of this investigation then was the preparation of a series of 5-substituted-5-(1-pyrrolidyl)barbituric acids in which R would consist of alkyl groups ranging in size from methyl to amyl, and other groups such as phenyl and benzyl. These compounds are to be tested elsewhere for hypnotic and anticonvulsant activity.

No description available.

The reaction of 5-bromo-5-ethylbarbituric acid with mercaptan and pyridine in cold ether solution was studied and was found to be satisfactory for the preparation of the compounds reported in this work.

Since no mention has been found in the literature of any 5-substituted mercapto-5-alkyl derivatives of barbituric acid, it was thought to be of interest to prepare a series of compounds containing sulfur attached directly to the barbituric acid nucleus. 5-substituted mercapto-5-isoamylbarbituric acids were chosen as representative of barbituric acids in which the alkyl group has a fairly high molecular weight.

As long ago as 1881, it was realized that a functional group of atoms in a molecule would cause an absorption band to appear at a particular frequency in the infrared spectrum of the molecule. In more recent years, the concept of characteristic group frequencies has become firmly established and has resulted in the present widespread use of infrared spectroscopy. There appear to have been relatively few studies of infrared absorption of organic acids as compared with their salts.

This thesis describes the synthesis of a series of 5-alkyl-5-(2-thienylmethyl)-barbituric acids.

A great deal of research has been devoted in recent years to the search for new drugs for the treatment of epilepsy and related convulsive disorders. This emphasis is occasioned by the fact that no one drug is effective for all patients, and also by the fact that the toxicity of a drug varies considerably from one patient to another. Among the most effective drugs are certain members of the hydantoin and barbituric acid series. For some time there has been in progress in this laboratory an investigation of members of these two series in which a hetro atom attached directly to the hetrocyclic nucleus is introduced into the side chain at position five of these two series.