Metharbital was patented in 1905 by Emil Fischer working for Merck KGaA. It was marketed as Gemonil by Abbott Laboratories. It is a barbiturate anticonvulsant, used in the treatment of epilepsy. It has similar properties to phenobarbital.
History
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1952 Gemonil was introduced by Abbott Laboratories.
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1990 Abbott stopped marketing.
Synthesis
Metharbital can be synthesized from 2,2-diethylmalonic acid and
O-methylisourea.