Spectrophotometric determination of dihydralazine in pharmaceuticals after derivatization with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde.

A sensitive and selective colorimetric assay has been developed for the determination of dihydralazine. The method is based on the interaction of dihydralazine with an ethanolic solution of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde to yield a water-insoluble yellow product, 1,4-bis[(2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl)methylene hydrazine]phthazine. This colour can be quantified spectrophotometrically at 420 nm. The calibration curve was linear between 0.4 and 8 micrograms ml-1 of dihydralazine. The molar absorptivity at 420 nm is 24000 l mol-1 cm-1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of dihydralazine in mixtures containing other drugs (reserpine, hydrochlorothiazide, oxprenolol, xanthinol, rutoside, chlorthalidone and bietaserpine).