SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF OXYBUPROCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE WITH HALOFLUORESCEIN DERIVATIVES

A simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the assay of oxybuprocaine hydrochloride is described. The method is based on th e formation of ion-pair associates between oxybuprocaine (OBC) and ros e bengal (RB), erythrosine B (Er) or eosin Y (E). The ion-pair associa tes were readily extractable with 1,2-dichloroethane and exhibited abs orption maxima at 560, 543 and 536 nm respectively. The calibration gr aphs generated were linear over the range 1-20 mu g ml(-1) of oxybupro caine hydrochloride in 1,2-dichloroethane. The composition of the asso ciates was established by continuous variation and molar ratio methods . The described method was utilized for assaying oxybuprocaine hydroch loride in ophthalmic solutions.