Differential pulse polarographic study of the degradation of cephalexin: Determination of Hydrogen Sulphide and other Degradation Products

Differential pulse polarography (d.p.p.) is used to study the degradation of cephalexin. Hydrogen sulphide, evolved during the degradation of cephalexin solutions, was removed continuously in a stream of nitrogen and determined periodically. Other electroactive degradation products were observed by d.p.p. of the degraded sample solutions. The degradation mechanism is highly dependent on pH, the initial concentration of cephalexin, temperature, the particular buffer used, and the presence of dissolved oxygen. The formation and degradation of the diketopiperazine derivative formed by intramolecular aminolysis, particularly at neutral pH, can be followed by means of its polarographic peak at -0.9 V (pH 7.4). Approximately half the total sulphur originally present in cephalexin is liberated as hydrogen sulphide at pH 7.4 at 37°C. Increasing the degradation temperature to 80°C and sweeping out the hydrogen sulphide with nitrogen increases the yield of a major product which gives a peak at -1.26 V. At pH 8.5 (80°C. 100 μg cephalexin ml^-1) the percentage of the sulphur evolved as hydrogen sulphide increases with time, and a peak appears at -0.96 V (probably 2-hydroxy-3-phenyl-6-methylpyrazine) which increases as the peak at -1.26 V becomes smaller. Other products formed under different conditions (concentration, pH, temperature) are reported. At pH 3 (80°C) only 8% conversion via intramolecular aminolysis and 5% evolution of total sulphur is indicated after four hours.