slower than that in rats. The differences in the disposition of pivalic acid between dogs and rats may account for differences in the degree of skeletal muscle disorders. The safety in humans of S-1108 given at 200 mg three times a day is discussed in relation to the metabolic formation of the carnitine conjugate of pivalic acid and the reduction of the carnitine concentration in plasma.
14 C labelled Metribuzine was synthetised in a five step synthesisfromsodium [1-14 C]pivalate (trimethyl acetic acid) via ω-bromo-[2- 14 C]pinacoline (1-bromo-3,3-dimethyl-butan-2-on) and trimethyl [2-14C]pyruvic acid. The total yield was 30% (calculated on sodium pivalate).