ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF PRILOCAINE AS ITS N-NITROSAMINE DERIVATIVE AT THE MERCURY-ELECTRODE

The polarographic behavior of prilocaine as its N-nitrosamine derivati ve, was studied using several electrochemical techniques. In acidic me dia. a nonreversible diffusion controlled reduction process involving two electrons takes place (E-1/2 = -0.86 V at pH 3.5). A differential pulse polarographic method is described for determining Prilocaine bas ed on the formation of its N-nitrosamine derivative in aqueous solutio n. The method has been validated for a series of artificial matrices w here different functional groups are present. It was also applied to a pharmaceutical formulation.