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The recent work of Knox (1946) and of nhox & Grossman (1946, 1947) has shown that N-methylnicotinamide chloride can be oxidised by an enzyme present in rabbit liver to the amide of N-methyl-2pyridone-5-carboxylic acid. These workers have also reported the isolation of the amide of N-methyl-2pyridone-5-carboxylic acid from human urine after the ingestion of 0-6-0-9 g. of nicotinamide per day. It is already well known that nicotinamide is methylated in the human body and that N-methylnicotinamide is normally excreted in human urine. The results of-Knox & Grossmnan (1946, 1947) therefore, indicate that part of the N-methylnicotinamide formed from nicotinamide in the human body may be oxidized by liver enzymes to N-methyl-2pyridone-5-carboxylic acid amide. The amide of N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxylic acid has not previously been described, b~ut the acid itself was prepared and described by von Pechmann & Welsh (1884), who synthesized it by two methods, viz. by the action of methylamine on the methyl * Unless otherwise stated, the melting points given in this paper ?ire uncorrected. .423

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