Titrimetric and Spectrophotometric Assay of Ganciclovir in Pharmaceuticals Using Cerium(IV) Sulphate as the Oxidimetric Agent

Abstract

Titrimetric and spectrophotometric assay of ganciclovir (GNC) is described using cerium(IV) sulphate as the oxidimetric reagent. The methods are based on the oxidation of GNC with a measured excess of cerium(IV) sulphate in acid medium followed by determination of the unreacted oxidant by two different reaction schemes. In titrimetry, the unreacted oxidant was determined by back titration with ferrous ammonium sulphate (FAS) in sulphuric acid medium, and spectrophotometry involves the reaction of residual cerium(IV) with p-DMAB to form brownish-coloured p-dimethylamino quinoneimine whose absorbance was measured at 460 nm. In both methods, the amount of cerium(IV) sulphate reacted corresponds to GNC concentration. Titrimetry is applicable over 3–10 mg range where as, in spcetrophotometry, the calibration graph is linear over the range of 2–10 μg mL−1 and the calculated molar absorptivity value is  L mol−1 cm−1. The validity of the proposed methods was tested by analyzing pure and dosage forms containing GNC. Statistical treatment of the results reflects that the proposed procedures are precise, accurate, and easily applicable for the determination of GNC pure form and in pharmaceutical formulations.