DETERMINATION OF METOPROLOL TARTRATE AS CU(II)DITHIOCARBAMATE COMPLEX

An HPLC method has been developed for the determination of the beta ad renergic blocking drug metoprolol tartrate. The method is based on the formation of a Cu(II)-dithiocarbamate complex by precolumn derivatiza tion of secondary amino group of metoprolol with CS2 and CuCl2 in the presence of ammonia. The complex is extracted into chloroform and inje cted into the chromatograph. Chromatographic separation was performed by a RP (mu Bondapak C-18) column with methanol - pH 5.8 phosphate buf fer(80:20) as the isocratic mobile phase. A variable wavelength absorb ance detector (lambda = 275 nm) was used A linear relationship was obt ained between peak areas and metoprolol tartrate concentrations over t he range of 35 - 180 nmol ml(-l). The method was applied to the analys is of metoprolol tartrate tablets and the results were statistically c ompared with those obtained by official method using t - and F - tests .