THE HYPNOTIC PROPERTIES OF SOME DERIVATIVES OF TRIHALOGENATED ALCOHOLS

¹ From G. D. Searle & Company, and the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology University of Louisville

In a series of esters of the trihalogenated alcohols studied, three compounds show definite indications of being useful hypnotics, although the therapeutic indices do not exceed those of the parent alcohols. The esters of the simple acids, i.e., acetic, possess the most pronounced hypnotic action, and as the complexity of the acid radical increases the compounds become less active.

Trichloroethanol has a slightly larger therapeutic index than tribromoethanol, and is considerably more effective than chloral hydrate.

The three chloralamides studied are either inactive or show only toxic properties.

Investigation in this field is being continued.