When Were Barbiturates Discovered?

Barbiturates were synthesized in 1864 by Adolf von Baeyer, though the synthetic process was developed and perfected by the French chemist Edouard Grimaux in 1879, making possible the subsequent widespread development of barbiturate derivatives (^Carter1951).

What is the origin of the drug barbiturates?

Barbiturates are basically a closed-chain ureic compound, whose nucleus is malonylurea. Malonyurea is a combination of urea and malonic acid, an acid derivative taken from apples. Barbiturates were synthesized in 1864 by Adolf von Baeyer. The process was then perfected by the French chemist Edouard Grimaux in 1879.

How long has phenobarbital been around?

Phenobarbital (phenobarbitone) was first used as an antiepileptic drug 100 years ago, in 1912. This article tells the story of the discovery of its antiepi- leptic action, its early development, and the subse- quent course of its clinical use over the 100-year period.