Separation of tricyclic antidepressants by capillary zone electrophoresis with N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,3-butanediamine (TMBD) as an effective electrolyte additive.

Five tricyclic antidepressants (TADs), desipramyne, nortriptyline, imipramine, doxepin and amitriptyline, were separated by using the N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,3-butanediamine (TMBD) as additive in the background electrolyte solution. Because the tricyclic antidepressants are similar in structure, mass and pka values, their separation, by capillary zone electrophoresis, requires the careful manipulation of parameters, such as the pH and the composition of the electrolyte solution. As basic drugs, the TADs interact with the silanol groups on the capillary wall giving rise to peak broadening and asymmetry, non reproducible migration times and failing in selectivity. Different concentrations of TMBD (40, 60, 100 and 150 mM) were used at pH 9.5, but only a 100 mM TMBD allowed a good separation and a high efficiency for all the TADs. At this pH the separation was not possible without additive. This result is due to the reduced electroosmotic flow whose mobility is at a value of 10(-9) m(2) V(-1) s(-1).