Summary The methyl ester of a-naphthylacetic acid has been condensed with dimethyl oxalate to produce a-naphthyldimethylmalonate, and this ester alkylated to form a- naphthylethyldimethylmalonate. 2. a-Naphthylethyldimethylmalonate has been condensed with urea in sodium ethylate solution to form 5-a-naphthyl-5-ethylbarbituric acid. 3. Tests have shown that this new barbituric acid possesses hypnotic properties but is not as ...