Difference spectrophotometric assay of 1,2-diphenolic drugs in pharmaceutical formulations - I. Boric acid reagent.

A new procedure is described for the selective determination of drugs containing a 1,2-diphenolic moiety. The assay is based upon the measurement of difference absorbance between two equimolar solutions of the drug in pH 7 phosphate buffer, one of which also contains 0.1 M boric acid. The difference absorbance, which is maximum at about 292 nm, is due to the different spectral characteristics of the boric acid ester of the drug and of the unesterified drug and is proportional to the concentration of the drug. The accuracy, precision, sensitivity and specificity of the procedure are discussed. Applications of the assay are described for adrenaline, isoetharine, isoprenaline, levodopa and methyldopa in pharmaceutical formulations.