A selective fluorimetric method for the determination of some 1,4-benzodiazepine drugs containing a hydroxyl group at C-3.

A highly selective and sensitive fluorimetric method was developed for the determination of four 1,4-benzodiazepine drugs containing a hydroxyl group at carbon 3, namely oxazepam, lorazepam, cinolazepam and temazepam. The method is highly specific because other benzodiazepinee lacking the hydroxyl group at C-3 do not react similarly and hence do not interfere. The proposed method involves reduction of the target compound using Zno/HCl at room temperature with the formation of a highly fluorescent derivative within 15 min. The different experimental parameters were carefully studied and incorporated into the procedure. Under the described conditions, the proposed method is applicable over the concentration range of 0.1-1.2 micrograms ml-1 for both temazepam and cinolazepam, and 0.2-2.5 and 1-8 micrograms ml-1 for oxazepam and lorazepam respectively. The recoveries of the title compounds from spiked urine ranged from 90.0 to 92.0% and for serum from 94.1 to 95.4% with a limit of detection (S/N = 2) of 4 ng ml-1 for all drugs. The mechanism of the fluorimetric reaction is discussed.