Use of pi-acceptors for spectrophotometric determination of dicyclomine hydrochloride

Simple, rapid, accurate, and sensitive spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of dicyclomine hydrochloride. The methods are based on the reaction of this drug as an n-electron donor with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoqunione (DDQ), p-chloranilic acid (p-CA), and chloranil (CL) as pi-acceptors to give highly colored complex species. The colored products are measured spectrophotometrically at 456, 530, and 650 nm for DDQ, p-CA, and CL, respectively. Optimization of the different experimental conditions were studied. Beer's law was obeyed in concentration ranges of 20-100, 50-250, and 80-600 microg/mL for DDQ, pCA, and CL, respectively. Colored complexes are produced in organic solvents and are stable for at least 1 h. The methods were applied to Spasmorest antispasmotic tablets and ampoules with good accuracy and precision.