Nitro derivatives of five-membered heterocyles are of considerable interest. Some are biologically active with anti-inflammatory or vasodilatory activity (1). The 5-nitroimidazoles are used as antiamoebic, antiprotozoal and antibacterial agents. Two important members of this chemical class are metronidazole and tinidazole. Discovery of the anti-trichomonal properties of metronidazole revolutionized the treatment of disease. A new approach to the spectrophotometric determination of metronidazole (MZ) and tinidazole (TZ) has been developed. The procedure involves coupling of diazotized nitroimidazoles with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DMAB) to form a greenish-yellow solution. Optimal temperature and time were 0°C (iced) and 3 minutes for diazotization and 30°C and 2 minutes for coupling for both MZ and TZ. Coloured adducts of MZ and TZ showed shoulders at 406 nm and 404 nm, respectively, which were selected as analytical wavelengths. The reaction with p-DMAB occurred in a 1:1 mole ratio. Beer's law was obeyed within the 4.8-76.8 mg mL -1 concentration range with low limits of detection. The azo adducts were stable for over a week. Molar absorptivities were 1.101 0 3 (MZ) and 1.30´10 3 L mol -1 cm -1 (TZ). Overall recoveries of MZ and TZ from quality control samples were 103.2 ± 1.3 and 101.9 ± 1.3 % over three days. There was no interference from commonly utilized tablet excipients. No significant difference was obtained between the results of the new method and the BP titrimetric procedures. The azo approach using the p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde procedure described in this paper is simple, fast, accurate and precise. It is the first application of DMAB as a coupling component in the diazo coupling reaction.

A new spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of two important nitroimidazoles; metronidazole (MZ) and tinidazole (TZ). The method was based on the charge-transfer (CT) complexation reaction of reduced forms of metronidazole and tinidazole as n-electron donors and chloranilic acid (CAA) as ʌ-electron acceptor to form a purple-colored complex with a new absorption band at 520 nm which was adopted as the analytical wavelength. Molar absorptivities of 2.741 u 10 2 L M -1 cm -1 and 2.681 u 10 2 L M -1 cm -1 were obtained for MZ and TZ, respectively. Optimization of reducing agent and time of reduction revealed the superiority of metal hydrides over reducing metals. Reduction of MZ and TZ was completed at 30 °C within 10 min. Optimizations of temperature and time for the complexation reaction revealed that the reaction was completed at 30 °C within 5 min. A 60:40 mixture of 1,4-dioxane:acetonitrile was found to be the best diluting solvent for optimal detector response. The complexes were stable at room temperatures for weeks. Beer's law was observed in the concentration of 5-40 μg ml (MZ) and 4.8-79.2 μg ml -1 (TZ) with low limits of detection of 1.88 and 0.74 μg ml -1 , respectively. Overall recoveries of MZ and TZ from quality control samples were 103.19 ± 2.05 (%RSD = 1.99, n = 12) and 101.63 ± 1.41 (%RSD = 1.39) over three days. There was no interference from commonly utilized tablet excipients. No significant difference existed between the results of the new method and the BP titrimetric procedures (p > 0.05). The new CT procedure described in this paper is simple, fast, convenient, accurate and precise and has the novelty of carrying out the reactions at room temperature compared to previously described procedures.The new method could be adopted as an alternative procedure for the quality assessment of MZ and TZ in bulk and dosage forms.

Background Quinolones and cephalosporins are antibiotic agents with activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. They contain chromophores and amine groups which are electron-rich centres capable of donating electrons to electron-deficient compounds. A survey of the literature revealed that 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol, a nitroaromatic useful in chemical synthesis, can accept electrons in charge transfer reactions. This work investigates N-(2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthyl)-p-toluenesulphonamide and 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol in the formation of charge transfer complexes by accepting electrons from selected quinolones and cephalosporins. Five other nitroaromatics (i.e. 4-nitro-1-naphthylamine, 2-nitro-1-naphthol, 2,4-dinitro-1-naphthylamine, 1-nitronaphthalene and 1,4-dinitronaphthalene) were screened in addition to the aforementioned and compared for charge transfer complexes formation. Spot test was used to establish charge transfer complex formation at room and elevated temperatures with determination done by visual inspection and thin layer chromatographic analysis of the reaction mixture. Ultraviolet visible absorption spectroscopy was used to estimate the extent of complexes. Results Only solutions of adducts of N-(2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthyl)-p-toluenesulphonamide and 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol gave instant and distinct colour with each drug used at room and elevated temperature. While the former gave deep golden yellow, the latter gave golden yellow against their blank reagent solutions which were, lemon and greenish yellow respectively. Visual inspections of 2-nitro-1-naphthol adduct solutions showed no colour change from the yellow colour of the blank reagent solution, even though the Ultraviolet visible absorption spectra revealed the formation of charge transfer complexes. The adducts solutions of 4-nitro-1-naphthylamine, 2,4-dinitro-1-naphthylamine, 1-nitronaphthalene and 1,4-dinitronaphthalene showed no colour change from their blank reagent solutions and their Ultraviolet visible absorption spectra revealed no formation of charge transfer complexes. Conclusion Ultraviolet visible absorption spectral analysis shows superiority of N-(2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthyl)-p-toluenesulphonamide and 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol in charge-transfer complex formation over other nitroaromatics screened. N-(2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthyl)-p-toluenesulphonamide and 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol are good acceptors of electrons from these drugs, hence could be useful as charge transfer reagents in ultraviolet visible spectrophotometric analysis of these drugs.

Background This study reports a new, cost-effective and validated method for the determination of ceftriaxone (CFR). The method involved charge transfer (CT) complexation reaction of ceftriaxone (as n-electron donor) and N-(2,4-dinitro-1-naphthyl)-p-toluenesulphonamide {N-(2,4-DN1NL) PTS} as π-electron acceptor to form a complex. Ultraviolet, infrared and 1H NMR spectra of CFR, N-(2,4-DN1NL) PTS and adduct were then studied to predict the site of interaction between the donor and acceptor. Result The complex formed had deep golden-yellow colour, having a new absorption band at 440 nm. Molar absorptivity of 1.667 × 105 L M−1 cm−1 was obtained. The complexation reaction was completed at 30 °C optimal temperature within 10 min. Acetonitrile was found to be the best diluting solvent for optimal detector response and the complex was stable (absorbance unchanged) at room temperature for hours. At concentration of 1.708–11.956 µg mL−1, with low limits of detection of 0.143 µg mL−1, Beer’s law was observed. Between-day recovery statistics of CFR from quality control samples were 102.15 ± 0.062 (% RSD = 0.61, n = 12) over three days. The site of interaction of donor and acceptor molecules, as revealed through infrared (IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies (1H NMR) and the formation of charge transfer complex is through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the amino group of the donor and the acidic proton of the acceptor. Common tablet excipients, as observed, did not interfere with the analytical method and no significant difference existed between the results of this new method and the high performance liquid chromatographic procedures (p > 0.05) documented in the USP. The new CT procedure described in this paper is not only simple but also fast, accurate and precise. Also, the reactions were carried out at room temperature compared to previously described procedures. Conclusions This novel method could therefore be adopted as a fast but cost-effective alternative for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of CFR in its pure and dosage form. It could find usefulness in on-the-spot detection of counterfeit drugs and in field inspections with reliable accurate results that compares with established methods.