Identification, preparation and UHPLC determination of process-related impurity in zolmitriptan

Abstract A new impurity was detected and determined using gradient ion-pair UHPLC method with UV detection in zolmitriptan (ZOL). Using MS, NMR and IR study the impurity was identified as (4 S ,4′ S )-4,4′-(2,2′-(4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,1-diyl)bis(3-(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl)-1 H -indole-5,2-diyl))bis(methylene)di(oxazolidin-2-one) (ZOL-dimer). The standard of ZOL-dimer was consequently prepared via organic synthesis followed by semipreparative HPLC purification. The UHPLC method was optimized in order to selectively detect and quantify other known and unknown process-related impurities and degradation products of ZOL as well. The presented method which was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision and selectivity has an advantage of a very quick UHPLC chromatographic separation (less than 7 min including re-equilibration time) and therefore is highly suitable for routine analysis of related substances and stability studies of ZOL.