5,5-DIETHYLBARBITURIC ACID SODIUM SALT

Chemical properties

Bitter crystals or powder.

The Uses of 5,5-DIETHYLBARBITURIC ACID SODIUM SALT

Biological buffer.

Definition

The soluble monosodium salt of barbital. It is a long-acting bar- biturate that depresses most metabolic processes at high doses.

Hazard

Poison; causes marked depression, pro- longed coma, and death; teratogen; questionable carcinogen; tumorigen; neoplastigen; mutagen.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion, subcutaneous, intravenous, and intraperitoneal routes. Large doses cause marked depression (sometimes preceded by excitation), prolonged coma, and death. Experimental teratogenic and reproductive effects. Allergic skin reactions may occur on contact. Implicated in development of aplastic anemia. Questionable carcinogin with experimental tumorigenic and neoplastigenic data. A truly habit-forming drug. Other experimental reproductive effects. Mutation data reported. Combustible. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NO, and NazO. See also BARBITURATES

Purification Methods

Crystallise it from water (3mL/g) by adding an equal volume of EtOH and cooling to 5o. Dry it under vacuum over P2O5. [Beilstein 24 III/IV 1904.]