Studies were carried out, for the first time, to investigate the charge-transfer reactions of losartan potassium (LOS-K) as n-electron donor with the sigma-acceptor iodine and various pi-acceptors: 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene,2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano1,4-benzoquinone, p-chloranilic acid, tetracyanoethylene, 2,3,5,6-tetrabromo-1,4-benzoquinone, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone, and 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone. Different colored charge-transfer complexes and radical anions were obtained. Different variables affecting the reactions were studied and optimized. The formed complexes and the site of interaction were examined by UV-vis, IR, and H-1 NMR techniques, and computational molecular modeling. The formation of the colored complexes were utilized in the development of simple, rapid and accurate spectrophotometric methods for the analysis of LOS-K in pure form as well as in its pharmaceutical tablets. Under the optimum reaction conditions, linear relationships with good correlation coefficients (0.9985-0.9998) were found between the absorbances and the concentrations of LOS-K in the range of 2-200 mu g ml(-1). The limits of assays detection ranged from 0.61 to 19.65 mu g ml(-1). No interference could be observed from the co-formulated hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), as well as from the additives commonly present in the tablets. The methods were successfully applied to the analysis of tablets from different manufacturers that contain LOS-K, alone or combined with HCTZ, with good accuracy and precision; the recovery percentages ranged from 98.96 +/- 1.62% to 101.58 +/- 1.29%. The results were compared favourably with the reported method. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.