SIMPLE AND SELECTIVE SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC ASSAY OF DIETHYLCARBAMAZINE CITRATE USING 2,3-DICHLORO-5,6-DICYANO-p-BENZOQUINONE AND 2,4-DINITRO PHENOL

Abstract

Two simple, rapid and inexpensive spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) in bulk drug and formulations. The methods are based on the charge–transfer (CT) complexation reaction involving DEC as the n- donor and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone [DDQ] (method A) and 2,4-dinitro phenol [DNP] (method B) as π-acceptors in chloroform. The absorbance of CT complexes was measured at 480 nm for method A, and 420 nm for method B. Under optimum conditions, Beer’s law was obeyed over the concentration ranges 4-90 and 4-100 μg mL-1 for methods A and B, respectively.

Keywords

• diethylcarbamazine citrate
• spectrophotometry
• charge-transfer complexes