Identification of major degradation products of 5-aminosalicylic acid formed in aqueous solutions and in pharmaceuticals

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The formation of four major degradation products of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in buffered solutions at pH 7.0 was demonstrated by gradient HPLC analysis. The isolation and structural elucidation of the resulting degradation products showed that the degradation of 5-ASA led to the formation of polymeric species by oxidative self-coupling of 5-ASA moieties. These results indicate that the degradation of 5-ASA follows the same mechanism as observed for the autooxidation of 4-aminophenol and 1,4-phenylenediamine. Some of the identified degradation products were found in 5-ASA-containing pharmaceuticals, which had not been stored as prescribed, but in diffuse daylight for up to 2 years.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics
Volume88
Issue number1-3
Pages (from-to)177-187
Number of pages11
ISSN0378-5173
Publication statusPublished - 1992

ID: 38061676