A new family of barbiturates, 5-chloro-5-benzylbarbituric acids, was prepared using a simple efficient synthetic method from aromatic aldehydes and barbituric acid, followed by reduction and chlorination with trichloro-isocyanuric acid, affording overall yields of 53 to 70%. The in vivo evaluation with mice showed that these compounds present tranquilizing activity.
5-chloro-5-benzylbarbituric acids; tranquilizers; benzylidenebarbiturates; trichloro-isocyanuric acid; rota-rod tests