New spectrophotometric methods for the assay of clozapine (CZP) in pur
e and dosage forms are described. Method A is based on the oxidative c
oupling reaction of CZP with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hy
drochloride (MBTH) in the presence of eerie ammonium sulphate to form
a coloured species (lambda(max) 570 nm). Method B is also based on the
oxidative coupling reaction of CZP with P-N,N-dimethylphenylenediamin
e dihydrochloride (DMPD) in the presence of sodium hypochlorite to for
m a coloured species (lambda(max) 690 nm). Method C is based on the fo
rmation of coloured charge-transfer complex between CZP and chloranili
c acid (lambda(max) 540 nm). Regression analysis of Beer-Lambert plots
showed good correlation in the concentration ranges 2-25, 10-120 and
15-300 mu g/ml for methods A, B and C, respectively. The validity of t
he proposed methods was tested by analysing pharmaceutical dosage form
s containing CZP and the relative standard deviation values were withi
n 1.0%.