Nirvanol

NIRVANOL (Nirvanolum), phenyl-ethyl-hydantoin, _CH₅\ /CO-NH

a white crystalline C₁₁H₁₂O₂N₂ powder melting at 197°, odorless, almost tasteless, sparingly soluble in cold water (1:1650), better in hot water (1:110), and well in alkalis due to the formation of easily soluble salts (the latter decompose already under the influence of atmospheric CO₂). Salts are formed by the substitution of hydrogen at the nitrogen located between two carbonyls. Nirvanol is a low-toxicity hypnotic, close in its type of action to luminal (see). However, hydantoin derivatives analogous to other barbituric acid derivatives—veronal and dial—do not possess hypnotic action. As side effects, Nirvanol causes skin rashes more frequently than other hypnotics. Its sodium salt can be used for rectal or intramuscular administration. - Acetyl-Nirvanol (in the molecule of which an acetic acid residue is located at the same nitrogen as the metal during salt formation), according to Michalke's observations, does not cause skin rashes.