Validated Enantioselective LC Method, with Precolumn Derivatization with Marfey’s Reagent, for Analysis of the Antiepileptic Drug Pregabalin in Bulk Drug Samples

An enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatographic method, with precolumn derivatization with Marfey’s chiral reagent, sodium 2,4-dinitro-5-fluorophenyl-l-alanine amide, has been developed for resolution of the enantiomers of a new antiepileptic drug, pregabalin, in the bulk drug. The diastereomers of the pregabalin enantiomers were resolved to baseline on a reversed-phase ODS column with a 60:40 (v/v) mixture of aqueous 0.2% triethylamine (pH adjusted to 3.5 with dilute orthophosphoric acid) and acetonitrile as mobile phase. Resolution between the diastereomers was not less than five. The method was extensively validated and proved to be robust. The calibration plot was indicative of an excellent linear relationship between response and concentration over the range 750 (LOQ) to 7,500 ng L⁻¹ for the R enantiomer. The limits of detection and quantification of the R enantiomer were 250 and 750 ng L⁻¹, respectively, for an injection volume of 10 μL. Recovery of the R enantiomer from bulk drug samples of pregabalin ranged from 97.5 to 101.76%. Solutions of pregabalin in water and in the mobile phase were found to be stable for at least 48 h. The method was found to be suitable and accurate for quantitative determination of the R enantiomer in the bulk drug. It can be also used to test the stability of samples of pregabalin.