Determination of Ephedrine via the Formation of Metal Complexes

Abstract The reaction of ephedrine with carbon disulphide and metals'reagents (nickel, copper and cobalt has been studied. Various methods are accordingly introduced for the determination of ephedrine in pure form and in pharmaceutical formulations. Direct spectrophotometric method determines 0.24-1.21, 0.61-5.45 and 6.05-60.5 μ moles. of epherdrine with a mean accuracy (P'=0.05) of 100.24± 1.48%,99.65±1.68% and 99.73±0.59% using nickel, copper and cobalt respectively. Indirect determinations- through the metals' content- include atomic absorption method, which is suitable for the determination of 0.73-8.5, 1.82-6.66 and 3.63-24.2 μ moles. of ephedrine with a mean accuracy of 99.49±1.18%, 100.13±1.65% and 99.68±0.63% on using nickel, copper and cobalt respectively. The corresponding data on determining the metals by the oxalyldrazide method are : 1.45-16.94, 0.61-1.57 and 0.73-17.54 μ moles. of epherdrine, 99.13±0.6%, 99.35±0.71% and 99.54±0.73% on using nickel, copper and cobalt respectively.