Analysis of propantheline bromide and related quaternary ammonium drugs by reversed-phase,ion-pair liquid chromatography with two counterions in the eluent

Summary The addition of appropriate concentrations of an organic amine and an alkylsulphonate to the mobile phase in reversed-phase, ion-pair liquid chromatography can introduce unique selectivity in to the chromatographic system allowing separation of complex mixtures of basic, acidic and neutral compounds. As an example, the methodology for a specific stability-indicating determination of propantheline bromide, a quaternary ammonium anticholinergic agent, on several reversedphase stationary phases, was developed. The retention mechanism was studied and it was concluded that both ion-interaction processes and ion-exchange processes were involved in the separation technique developed with two counterions of opposite charge in the eluent.