An Extension of the Method of Selective Oxidation to the Resolution of Mixtures of Barbiturates with Saturated Side-Chains

The use of permanganate oxidation in the resolution of mixtures of barbiturates with unsaturated side-chains, which are encountered in cases of poisoning, was previously reported in this Journal (Stevens, 1962).

This work is here extended to include barbiturates with saturated side-chains which were not amenable to the permanganate method.

A note is also included on the behaviour of Primidone in this scheme, and suggestions made as to the nature of barbiturate oxidations.