Barbiturate Esters as Intravenous Anaesthetics. 2nd Edition

The currently accepted explanation of the short action of barbiturate anesthetics is that the redistribution of drug within the body compartments and also some degree of metabolism being involved. It is, however manifestly evident that the barbiturates anesthetic are not rapidly metabolized. Thus it was assumed that molecular modifications could provide barbiturates which undergo rapid metabolism and thereby would offer very important clinical advantage. It was felt that there was a need for an agent that is potent, very brief because of rapid metabolic break down and allows restoration of all mental faculties within 1-2 hours without persistent hangover or headache. It is well known that the presence of an ester function in many cholinergic, anti-cholinergic and local anesthetic agents is not only responsible for binding with receptor at the site of action, but is also responsible for the susceptibility of these drugs to the action of plasma esters and as such these compounds are rapidly metabolized. It is the aim of this research described here to meet these requirements of rapid metabolism in the particular case of anesthetic barbiturates.