VOLTAMMETRIC DETERMINATION OF OXAZEPAM AND LORAZEPAM

Voltammetric reduction behaviour of oxazepam and lorazepam (sedative-hypnotic drugs) has been studied by employing d.c. polarography, cyclic voltammetry, a.c. polarography, differential pulse polarography and rotating ring disk voltammetry in the universal buffers of pH ranging from 2.0 to 12.0. These compounds show a single well defined wave/peak in the entire buffer systems studied. This single wave/peak is attributed to the simultaneous reduction of the 4,5-azomethine bond and reductive cleavage of the hydroxyl group in the 3-position of the 1,4-diazepine ring, corresponding to two electrons each. Differential pulse polarographic method has been developed for the quantitative determination of title compounds in different pharmaceutical formulations. Kinetic parameters are evaluated and a reduction mechanism is proposed based on the results obtained.