DETERMINATION OF SOME 1,4-BENZODIAZEPINES BY OXIDATIVE COUPLING OF THEIR ACID-INDUCED DEGRADATION PRODUCTS

The oxidative coupling reaction of 3-methylbenzothiazolone hydrazone w ith aromatic amines was applied to the determination of five 1,4-benzo diazepine derivatives. The drugs were first hydrolyzed in acid medium and the liberated benzophenone derivatives were reacted with the chrom ogenic reagent in the presence of cerric ammonium sulphate to give a p ink color. A linear correlation was found between the absorbance at la mbda(max) and concentration. The method was applied to the determinati on of these drugs in bulk powder and in pharmaceutical preparations. T he procedure was extended to develop a stability-indicating method for the