The central action of 1-p-dimethylaminophenyl-5-allyl-5-(beta-hydroxypropyl) barbituric acid and the corresponding lactone.

1-p-dimethylaminophenyl-5-allyl-5-(beta-hydroxypropyl)barbituric acid (NP) and the probably product of its isomerization alpha-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)allophanyl-alpha-allyl-gamma-methylbutyrolactone (MW) was studied. Behavioral experiments carried out on mice and rats showed that both the acid (NP) and the lactone (MW) suppress the reactivity of the central nervous system, and, to some degree, act like tranquilizing agents.