Differential pulse polarography of some degradation products of tetracycline.

In an attempt to develop a more rapid, convenient, and precise method for the direct detection and analysis of the degradation products of tetracycline, a study of those products utilizing differential pulse polarography was initiated. The investigation was concentrated on the subject of the kinetics of the epimerization of anhydrotetracycline to 4-epianhydrotetracycline in acetate buffer. The reaction was followed at 25 and 50 degrees. Duplicate experiments were run at each temperature. The apparent rate constants obtained were 4.17 +/- 0.13 X 10(-1)/hr (25 degrees) and 6.97 +/- 1.00 X 10(-2)/hr (50 degrees).