[Determination of the retention indices (Rf) of hypnotic and anticonvulsant sedatives by thin layer chromatography using Merck silica gel plates (author's transl)].

In view of the sometimes considerable differences between absolute retention indices (Rf) given in the literature even with the same solvent, same type of adsorbent layer and same operating temperature, the Author proposes the adoption of a standard method derived from the analytical repeatability of Rf values on a thin layer; this would provide a means of searching for a specific parameter by which to identify whole categories of drugs, classified according to their primary therapeutic activity. The study here covers numerous items in the category of hypnotic and anticonvulsant sedatives (barbiturates, non-barbiturate hypnotic drugs, hydantoins, suxinimides, and anticonvulsant agents with various different structures.