QSPR studies on the photoinduced-fluorescence behaviour of pharmaceuticals and pesticides.

Fluorimetric analysis is still a growing line of research in the determination of a wide range of organic compounds, including pharmaceuticals and pesticides, which makes necessary the development of new strategies aimed at improving the performance of fluorescence determinations as well as the sensitivity and, especially, the selectivity of the newly developed analytical methods. In this paper are presented applications of a useful and growing tool suitable for fostering and improving research in the analytical field. Experimental screening, molecular connectivity and discriminant analysis are applied to organic compounds to predict their fluorescent behaviour after their photodegradation by UV irradiation in a continuous flow manifold (multicommutation flow assembly). The screening was based on online fluorimetric measurement and comprised pre-selected compounds with different molecular structures (pharmaceuticals and some pesticides with known 'native' fluorescent behaviour) to study their changes in fluorescent behaviour after UV irradiation. Theoretical predictions agree with the results from the experimental screening and could be used to develop selective analytical methods, as well as helping to reduce the need for expensive, time-consuming and trial-and-error screening procedures.

Theoretical prediction of the native fluorescence of pharmaceuticals.

At present, to search fluorescent compounds or to increase the native fluorescence is an active research line specially and not only with analytical purposes. On some analytical areas and from the early times of applications of fluorescence (mid-fifties) the fluorimeter was defined as the suitable detector for determination of pharmaceuticals and subsequently, this detection mode has been widely applied. Therefore, it is mandatory to develop new strategies to discover or to enhance in a simple way the native fluorescence of organic compounds to increase the number of analytes to be determined by direct fluorescence. In the present paper are studied further applications of a new tool suitable to increase the research in analytical field. Calculations on molecular connectivity and discriminant analysis are applied to a certain number of pharmaceuticals (and some pesticides) on which fluorescence behaviour was observed in an experimental screening or obtained from scientific literature. The screening tests were based on the on-line fluorimetric measurement by using a continuous-flow assembly. The screening comprised pre-selected compounds with different molecular structures. The theoretical predictions agree with the empirical results from the screening test.

Fluorescence determination of the pesticide asulam by flow injection analysis.

This paper presents the analytical determination of the pesticide Asulam based on its native fluorescence. The method was optimized in either a flow injection analysis (FIA) assembly or in batch. The maximum fluorescence intensity was observed for basic pH solutions and at a lamda(ex) of 258 nm and a lamda(em) of 342 nm. The influence of different empirical parameters, such as the pH, the presence of surfactants, solvent polarity or solved oxygen amount, was studied. The calibration range was fitted with a linear equation from 0.01-3 mg l(-1) Asulam and 0.005-15 mg l(-1) Asulam for batch and continuous-flow, respectively. The RSD for both procedures was 1.0%. After testing the influence of a large series of potential interferents, the method was applied to water samples from different locations.

Chemiluminescent determination of the pesticide bromoxynil by on-line photodegradation in a flow-injection system.

A new, robust and simple method is proposed for the chemiluminescent determination of the pesticide Bromoxynil. The empirical procedure is performed with the aid of a flow-injection manifold provided with an on-line photo-reactor to obtain chemiluminescent photofragments. After a period of 12 s of irradiation with an 8 W low-pressure mercury lamp, a chemiluminescent oxidation was performed with the system potassium permanganate in a polyphosphoric acid medium. The photolysis required a basic medium (KOH 0.014 mol l(-1)) with ethanol (1%) as a sensitizer. The method allowed the determination of 134 samples (h-1) of Bromoxynil in a wide interval of concentrations, over the range 5 x 10(-3) - 1 mg l(-1); the detection limit was 5 x 10(-3) mg l(-1). The RSD (n=24) at 0.25 mg l(-1) of the pesticide level was 2.3%. The method was applied to a water sample and to a formulation.

Photoinduced chemiluminescence of pharmaceuticals.

A screening test for the forward development of chemiluminescence systems able to determine pharmaceutical compounds is reported. The test is based on the on-line photodegradation of the drugs by using a photoreactor consisting of 697 cmx0.5 mm PTFE tubing helically coiled around an 8 W low-pressure mercury lamp. Photodegraded pharmaceuticals are detected by direct chemiluminescence of the resulting photofragments and their subsequent reaction with potassium permanganate in sulphuric acid medium as oxidant. The screening comprised 97 compounds with different molecular structures and relevant members of the most important families of pharmaceuticals are tested (amino acids, carboxylic acids, nitrocompounds, phenyl-alkyl and aromatic amines, sulphonic acid amides, polycarbocyclics, monocyclic N-containing heterocyclics, bicyclic N-containing heterocyclics, tricyclic N-containing heterocyclics, N-S containing heterocyclics...). Due to the relevant influence of the medium for the photodegradation a wide range of pH's and buffer solutions were studied. The proposed strategy (photoinduced chemiluminescence, Ph-CL) allows the development of systems for the determination of many pharmaceuticals which do not present "native" chemiluminescence (e.g. chloramphenicol, dextromethorpham, riboflavin, ephedrine, piperazinamide, chlotrimazole, theophylline...). Moreover, Ph-CL allows to increase the sensitivity of chemiluminescence procedures based on direct chemiluminescence detection (e.g. sulphonamides, thiazides, nicontinamide, nortryptiline, levamisole, phenylbarbituric acid...).

In situ generation of Co(II) by use of a solid-phase reactor in an FIA assembly for the spectrophotometric determination of penicillamine.

A flow injection analysis (FIA) manifold for the determination of penicillamine in pharmaceutical preparations is proposed. The manifold includes a solid-phase reactor for the in situ production of the derivatizing reagent, Co(II) ion, which forms a coloured complex with penicillamine in an alkaline medium. The reactor is prepared by natural immobilization of cobalt carbonate on a polymer matrix, which endows it with a high mechanical and microbiological stability. The cobalt released by passage of a 5 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) sulphuric acid stream at a flow-rate of 2.3 ml min(-1) is merged with a volume of 314 microl of sample containing penicillamine in ammonium-ammonia buffer at pH 9.5 to measure the absorbance at 360 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over the penicillamine concentration range 5-60 mg l(-1). The limit of detection (LOD) of the method is 1 mg l(-1) and its throughput 70 samples h(-1).

FI-chemiluminometric study of thiazides by on-line photochemical reaction.

The present manuscript deals with a simple and sensitive flow-injection method for the chemiluminescent determination of thiazides. The method is based on the on-line photodegradation and chemiluminescent determination of the resulting photo-fragments. The on-line photodegradation is performed in basic medium by using a photoreactor consisting of a 550cm long x 0.8mm ID piece of PTFE tubing helically coiled around an 8W low-pressure mercury lamp. The determination of the photo-irradiated thiazides is performed by a chemiluminescent oxidative reaction with Ce(IV) in sulphuric acid medium. A heterogeneous group of thiazides (indapamide, metolazone, hydroflumethiazide, chlorthalidone and bendroflumethiazide) has been studied. Hydrochlorothiazide was selected as a test substance. The "on-line" photochemical reaction approach allows the sensitive chemiluminescent determination of thiazides which do not present native chemiluminescence in the absence of sensitizers such as Rhodamine 6G. Linear calibration graphs were typically over the range 0.5-12 microgml(-1) (indapamide, metolazone, hydroflumethiazide and chlorthalidone); and over the range 0.5-5 microgml(-1) (hydrochlorothiazide). Limits of detection ranged between 0.005 microgml(-1) (hydrochlorothiazide) and 0.06 microgml(-1) (bendroflumethiazide). The relative standard deviation for the test substance was 2.0% for 2 microgl(-1) of the drug (n = 11) and the throughput was 65 h(-1) in all cases. The assessment of the photodegradation step on the molecular structure of thiazides was established by recording UV and fluorimetric spectra. The viability of the on-line photoinduced fluorescent determination of hydroflumethiazide and bendroflumethiazide was confirmed. The method was also applied to the determination of hydrochlorothiazide in commercially available formulation.

Automated simultaneous triple dissolution profiles of two drugs, sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim and hydrochlorothiazide-captopril in solid oral dosage forms by a multicommutation flow-assembly and derivative spectrophotometry.

This article deals with the simultaneous determination of three dissolution profiles with the aid of the new and emerging continuous-flow methodology known as multicommutation. This methodology is based on a flow network of a set of solenoid valves controlled by the computer and acting as independent multicommutators to allow the easy and automated control of flowing solutions. The obtained three dissolution profiles from one dosage form are the whole formulation profile or "global profile" recommended by pharmacopoeias, and, at same time, are recorded two "individual" profiles from two drugs present in the formulation. This is the second attempt to obtain simultaneously three dissolution profiles with a single spectrophotometric detector and the first with the multicommutation methodology. The selected pharmaceutical formulations contained a couple of active principles with overlapped spectra, namely sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim or hydrochlorothiazide and captopril. The obtained empirical plots profiles fitted with the Higuchi equation also known as the three-parameter equation.

A tandem-flow assembly for the chemiluminometric determination of hydroquinone.

A direct chemiluminescent procedure for determination of hydroquinone based on the emergent flow methodology known as multicommutation or tandem-flow is presented for first time. The manifold was based on a set of three channels and three solenoid valves; and, the determination was performed at 60 degrees C and at flow-rate of 7.5mlmin(-1). The complete cycle lasted 35s, which resulted in a sample flow trough of 103h(-1). The chemical process was the hydroquinone oxidation with the system sulphuric acid-potassium permanganate; and the light emission was clearly enhanced by the presence of quinine sulphate and benzalkonium chloride reaching a detection limit of 30mugl(-1). The dynamic interval was over the range 0.1-15.0mgl(-1) and a large list of interferents were assayed; the chemical robustness was also tested. The method was applied to different type of samples: namely, pharmaceutical formulations, a photographic solution and irrigation and residual superficial waters.

Three simultaneous dissolution profiles on a solid pharmaceutical formulation by a FIA manifold provided with a single spectrophotometric detector.

This article deals with the simultaneous determination of three dissolution profiles in the same pharmaceutical formulation. The officially proposed procedure from the pharmacopoeias is adapted to the FIA methodology to obtain the officially recommended profile or "global profile", and two "individual" profiles, corresponding to dissolution rate of two different active principles present in the formulation; both drugs have overlapped UV-vis spectra. The simultaneous determination of several profiles is based on the derivative spectra and the zero crossing mathematical procedure for the "individual" profiles of an active principle; the "global" profile of the formulation is obtained from the order zero derivative. The empirical profiles were adjusted by regression analysis using the three-parameter (Higuchi equation) plot method which was selected as the most suitable. The analytical errors when the concentration of one drug is very small or very high are also checked.

Determination of tyrosine through a FIA-direct chemiluminescence procedure.

A new FI-direct chemiluminescence method is proposed for the determination of tyrosine, based on the oxidation of the amino acid by K(3)Fe(CN)(6) in potassium hydroxide medium, at room temperature and enhanced by the presence of beta-cyclodextrin and formic acid. The dynamic range was linear over the range 1.0-10.0 mgl(-1). A large study of the influence of foreign compounds was performed, including amino acids; and, the method showed high selectivity. The reproducibility between days resulted in a rsd (in slope%) of 4.8 and the repeatability with a rsd (n=50, 10.0 mgl(-1)) of 3.1%, the LOD (s/n=3) was 50 mugl(-1) and sample throughput 98 h(-1).

Prediction of the chemiluminescent behaviour of phenols and polyphenols.

A paper from this laboratory 'J. Anal. Chem. 73 (2001) 4301' was recently published and dealing with the first attempt to apply molecular connectivity calculations to predict a chemical property with analytical usefulness; namely, the chemiluminescent behaviour of substances when react with common strong oxidants in liquid phase. In the present work, the usefulness of molecular topology on the search for new chemiluminescent compounds is clearly demonstrated. The proposed discriminant equation, represented a success of 92.7% in the prediction. The present paper is the further step from the cited paper; it is dealing on the application of molecular connectivity calculations (former discriminant equation 'J. Anal. Chem. 73 (2001) 4301') to predict the chemiluminescent behaviour of phenols and polyphenols when they react with common oxidants in liquid phase. A number of phenols and polyphenols (close to 100) were theoretically studied by means of the discriminant equation 'J. Anal. Chem. 73 (2001) 4301', being some of them predicted as chemiluminescent with a high probability. These theoretical predictions have been empirically checked through a continuous flow manifold. A number of 33 compounds, selected between those which chemiluminescent behaviour was predicted, were assayed. A success of 100% over the theoretical predictions was obtained.

Simultaneous dissolution profiles of two drugs, sulfadiazine-trimethoprim and amitriptyline-perphenazine, in solid oral dosage forms by a FIA manifold provided with a single spectrophotometric detector.

The simultaneous determination of two dissolution profiles wih the aid of a flow injection analysis assembly has been applied to: (a) sulfadiazine-trimethoprim in tablets and (b) amitriptyline-perphenazine in sugar coated pills. The selected combinations are drugs which have overlapping UV-vis spectra. The officially proposed procedure from the pharmacopoeias has been adapted for the FIA methodology and derivative spectrophotometry and zero crossing. Preliminary experiments on the suitability of the simultaneous determination of both drugs were performed. The empirical profiles were adjusted by regression analysis using different approaches. The 3-parameter plot method was finally selected as the most suitable for the sulfadiazine-trimethoprim and the 4-parameter equation plot for amitriptyline-perphenazine.

Oxidation of adrenaline and noradrenaline by solved molecular oxygen in a FIA assembly.

A simple and effective procedure is proposed for the study and simultaneous determination of adrenaline and noradrenaline. The fluorimetric determination of both substances is performed in a flow injection assembly and by oxidation of both drugs with the solved molecular oxygen. The influence of different parameters is empirically studied and the interpretation of the reaction mechanism is also added. The determination of adrenaline is monitored at 450 nm and the outputs at 520 nm correspond to the adrenaline and noradrenaline global amount; for both lectures lambda(exc) 329 nm. The influence of temperature is relevant and analytical determination occurred at 55 degrees C by immersing the sample loop in a water bath. The linear range for adrenaline is over 0.5-20 microg ml(-1), limit of detection for both compounds is 0.2 microg ml(-1): the influence of foreign compounds as potential interferents is also tested; and, finally the procedure is applied to determination of both chatecolamines in synthetic samples.

Simultaneous dissolution profiles of two drugs in pharmaceutical formulations by an FIA manifold.

This article deals with the simultaneous determination of dissolution profiles of two drugs with overlapped spectra, present in the same pharmaceutical formulation. The official procedure for the dissolution profile is adapted to the continuous-flow methodology; the dissolution vessel is connected to an FIA manifold, in which the sample aliquots from the dissolution vessel are treated in order to adjust to the suitable pH and dilution degree to be monitored. The resulting solution is injected into the carrier stream, an acetic acid-acetate buffer at pH 4.3 and forced to the flow-cell of the spectrophotometer. The simultaneous determination of both profiles is based on the first derivative spectra and the zero-crossing mathematical procedure. The empirical profile of the curve is adjusted by regression using different approaches; the three-parameter plot method is selected. The analytical errors, when the concentration of one drug is very low or very high, are also checked. A binary mixture in commercially available formulations of solid oral administration of sulphametoxazole and trimethoprim is presented.

Determination of tannic acid by direct chemiluminescence in a FIA assembly.

The determination of tannic acid is performed in a FIA assembly on the basis of the analytical output obtained by oxidation of the acid. The analyte solution was daily prepared in a mixture of quinine as sensitiser and perchloric acid and it was injected into a pure water stream acting as a carrier. This solution merges with the mixture potassium permanganate in perchloric medium and the resulting chemiluminescence is monitored. The method was applied over the range 0.5-20 mg l(-1) of tannic acid with a LOD 100 mug l(-1). The reproducibility was 2.1% and the sample throughput 54 h(-1). The influence of foreign substances was studied and the new method is applied to the determination of tannic acid in pharmaceutical and galenic formulations in human urine and surface waters.

Determination of nitrite by inhibition of the chemiluminescence of acriflavine in a flow-injection assembly.

The indirect determination of nitrite was performed with a flow-injection assembly on the basis of the inhibition of the analytical output obtained in a luminometer by oxidation of acriflavine. The acriflavine solution merged with the nitrite and the resulting mixture was injected into a pure water stream. This solution merged with the oxidant solution (potassium permanganate in sulfuric acid medium) and the resulting chemiluminiscence was affected (inhibited) by the presence of nitrite after reaction with the aminoacridine. The method was applicable over the range 10-800 microg l(-1) of nitrite with a correlation coefficient of 0.9960. The relative standard deviation was 1.4% and the throughput was 76 samples h(-1). The influence of foreign substances was also tested. A solid-phase reactor, filled with Amberlite IRA-900, was inserted in the assembly for the on-line preconcentration of nitrite; the analytical output resulted in an increase of up to 11.5-fold. The method was applied to the determination of nitrites in residual waters, industrial formulations and soil samples.

Prediction of the chemiluminescent behavior of pharmaceuticals and pesticides.

The present paper deals with the first attempt to apply molecular connectivity calculations to predict a chemical property with analytical usefulness: the chemiluminescent behavior of substances when reacted with common oxidants in a liquid phase. Preliminary evidence when searching for new direct CL methods consisted of the examination of analyte reaction with a wide range of oxidants and media. This task, which results in time-consuming and trial-and-error expensive procedures, is necessary due to ensure empirical or theoretical rules for CL prediction are available. On the other hand, in quantitative structure-activity relationship studies, molecular connectivity is a topological method capable of describing the structure of a molecule by means of numbers named indices; subsequent regression in relation to the experimental values of the physical, chemical, or biological properties yields a series of functions called connectivity functions. Discriminant analysis was applied to 200 either chemiluminescent or nonchemiluminescent substances found either bibliographically or in an experimental screening. The method used for the selection of descriptors was a stepwise linear discriminant analysis from the Snedecor F-parameter. The classification criterion used was the minimum value of Mahalanobis. The quality of the discriminant function was calculated through the Wilks U-statistical parameter. Finally, the function was applied to a database including of more than 50,000 structurally heterogeneous compounds. The theoretical predictions were faced with the empirical evidence obtained through a continuous-flow manifold.

o-Dianisidine: a new reagent for selective spectrophotometric, flow injection determination of chlorine.

A flow injection analysis (FIA) procedure for the determination of free chlorine in industrial formulations and water samples is proposed. The manifold is provided with a gas-diffusion unit which permits the removal of interfering species and also the preconcentration of chlorine. The determination of chlorine is performed on the basis of the oxidation by o-dianisidine as a chromogenic reagent to a coloured product which can be monitored at 445 nm. The method (for a preconcentration step of 60 s) is linear over the range 0.04-1.00 mg l(-1) of chlorine, the limit of detection is 0.04 mg l(-1), the reproducibility of the procedure (as RSD of the slope) is 3.7% for a series of four independent calibrations, the precision (as RSD of a series of 30 continuous FIA peaks of 0.56 mg l(-1) of chlorine) is 1.4% and the sample throughput is 40 h(-1). A detailed comparative study of the analytical characteristics of a single mono-channel reverse FIA assembly and the same system but provided with a Fluoropore membrane filter of 0.5 microm pore size was performed to check the advantages of the new approach in terms of sensitivity, selectivity and limit of detection.

Inhibition of the system luminol-H2O2-Fe(CN)6(3)-chemiluminescence by the Mn(II) indirect determination of isoniazid in a pharmaceutical formulation.

A flow injection procedure for the indirect chemiluminescent determination of isoniazid is proposed. The method is performed in a flow-injection manifold provided with a solid-phase reactor. The reactor was made from manganese dioxide physically entrapped by polymerization; the redox reaction isoniazid-manganese dioxide released Mn(II) which was monitored through its inhibitory effect on the reaction between luminol and hydrogen peroxide in presence of potassium hexacyanoferrate (III). The procedure resulted in a linear calibration graph over the range 5-15 mg/L of isoniazid with a sample throughput of 43 samples/h. The influence of foreign compounds was studied and the method was applied to determination of the drug in a pharmaceutical formulation.