INFLUENCE OF PH ON THE DEGRADATION OF ORNIDAZOL - ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ITS DEGRADATION PRODUCTS

The decomposition of ornidazol under different conditions of pH and temperature was studied using combined high performance liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography, and spectrometric techniques. The results showed that the drug is stable in acidic medium (pH < 6), but at a higher pH it decomposed through the formation of two main degradation products, namely, the corresponding epoxide, via an intra-molecular nucleophilic attack, and the subsequent opening of the epoxide to give a diol. Spectrometric data, retention times of the drug and its two degradation products, specific rate constants and other kinetic parameters and included.