Identification of drugs and other toxic compounds from their ultraviolet spectra. Part II: Ultraviolet absorption properties of thirteen structural groups.

The ultraviolet absorption spectra of 13 different chemical classes of drugs and toxic organic compounds were studied. A classification system has been developed in which compounds with the same conjugated molecular system and auxochrome substituents are grouped together. Each of these groups has characteristic absorption spectra, showing similarities in the number of major bands, position of maximum absorbance, pH effects, and solvent effects. The absorption maxima and molecular absorptivities are tabulated for approximately 100 compounds, and characteristic spectra of each designated group are illustrated. Classes of drugs included in this study are pyridine derivatives, hydrazines, pyridylamine derivatives, variously substituted phenols, barbiturates, ureides, imides, hydantoins, and conjugted ketones (enones).