Qualitative and quantitative analysis of uracil anticancer drugs.
Two uracil anticancer drugs can be selectively identified and estimated by means of two colour reactions. 5-Fluorouracil is treated with bromine water in borax medium, and then with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in acidic medium to give an orange-red precipitate which produces a distinctly violet solution when treated with potassium hydroxide solution. Uracil mustard, containing alkylating groups, is heated with alpha-picoline in aqueous solution. The quaternary salt thus produced is condensed in alkaline medium with sodium 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate, giving a pink colour. The possibility of using these colour tests for the determinations of these anticancer drugs in pure and dosage forms has been studied.
Hassib
S T
ST
Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.