Differential-Pulse Polarographic Determination of Some N-Substituted Phenothiazine Derivatives in Dosage Forms and Urine Through Treatment with Nitrous Acid

 A highly sensitive differential-pulse (DPP) polarographic method is described for the determination of three N-substituted phenothiazine derivatives, chlorpromazine (CZ), promazine (PZ) and promethazine (PMZ). The method involves the use of nitrous acid as an oxidant. Polarographically-active sulphoxides with diffusion-current constants (Id) of 2.53, 3.05 and 3.37 were obtained for CZ, PZ and PMZ, respectively. The polarographic waves were characterized as being diffusion-controlled, irreversible and partly affected by adsorption phenomena. All parameters affecting the oxidation process and polarographic behaviour were optimized and incorporated into the procedure. The limiting current-concentration plots in the DPP mode were rectilinear over the range: 0.006–0.1 mM, 0.005–0.08 mM and 0.008–0.1 mM for CZ, PZ and PMZ, respectively, with minimum detectability (S/N=3) of 3 × 10⁻⁷ M for CZ and PZ, and 4 × 10⁻⁷ M for PMZ, respectively. The kinetic parameters of the electrode reaction, including rate constant, free energy of activation ΔG and effect of temperature on both parameters were studied. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of phenothiazines in dosage forms; the results obtained were in agreement with those given with the official methods. The method was further applied to the determination of promazine in spiked human urine. The percentage recovery was 96.86 ± 0.30. The advantages of the proposed method over other reported methods were discussed. A proposal of the electrode reaction was made. Received June 1, 1999. Revision March 10, 2000.