In a previous paper'it was reported that better yields of a 5-P-hydroxyethyl-5-alkyl barbiturate are obtained by refluxing the reaction mixture for relatively short periods of time followed by the distillation of the alcohol. It has now been shown to be unnecessary to heat the reaction mixture according to the generally followed procedure of Fischer and von Mering. In fact, the observance of the more vigorous treatment causes a decrease in the yield. According to ...
