H. Christensen, I. Lee
Dec 1, 1973
Citations
3
Influential Citations
45
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Toxicology and applied pharmacology
Abstract
The anesthetic activity (loss of righting reflex) and acute toxicity of the optically pure enantiomers of various disubstituted barbituric acids containing and optically active 5-(1-methylbutyl)alkyl group (pentobarbital, secobarbital, thiopental and thioamylal) and of their racemates was determined in mice after iv and ip administration. The S(−)-isomer was found in every case to be significantly more toxic and potent as an anesthetic agent than the R(+)-isomer or the racemate, presumably owing to the steric configuration of the 1-methylbutyl group. However, the therapeutic indices were similar for all the compounds, averaging 3.4.