The determination of diamorphine by thin-layer chromatography and spectrophotometry

Abstract

THE assay of diamorphine in Diamorphine Injection B.P. is based on its hydrolysis to morphine followed by a colorimetric determination (Allport & Jones, 1942; Stephens, 1951; Hooper, Shaw & Tims, 1967). Stored solutions of diamorphine may contain O3- and O6-acetyl-morphines as well as diamorphine and morphine (Davey, Murray & Rogers, 1967); all are converted into morphine in the first stage of the British Pharmacopoeial assay of the injection and thus contribute to the final morphine content. Separation of opium alkaloids and their acetylated derivatives by thin-layer chromatography has already been reported (Mary & Brochmann-Hanssen, 1963; Vignoli, Guillot & others, 1965, 1966a, b) and the application of this technique to diamorphine, the acetylmorphines and morphine is discussed below.