Potentials of N-(2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthyl)-p-toluenesulphonamide and 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol as novel charge transfer acceptors in pharmaceutical analysis of some quinolones and cephalosporins

Abstract

Abstract Background Quinolones and cephalosporins are antibiotic agents with activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. They contain chromophores and amine groups which are electron-rich centres capable of donating electrons to electron-deficient compounds. A survey of the literature revealed that 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol, a nitroaromatic useful in chemical synthesis, can accept electrons in charge transfer reactions. This work investigates N-(2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthyl)-p-toluenesulphonamide and 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol in the formation of charge transfer complexes by accepting electrons from selected quinolones and cephalosporins. Five other nitroaromatics (i.e. 4-nitro-1-naphthylamine, 2-nitro-1-naphthol, 2,4-dinitro-1-naphthylamine, 1-nitronaphthalene and 1,4-dinitronaphthalene) were screened in addition to the aforementioned and compared for charge transfer complexes formation. Spot test was used to establish charge transfer complex formation at room and elevated temperatures with determination done by visual inspection and thin layer chromatographic analysis of the reaction mixture. Ultraviolet visible absorption spectroscopy was used to estimate the extent of complexes. Results Only solutions of adducts of N-(2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthyl)-p-toluenesulphonamide and 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol gave instant and distinct colour with each drug used at room and elevated temperature. While the former gave deep golden yellow, the latter gave golden yellow against their blank reagent solutions which were, lemon and greenish yellow respectively. Visual inspections of 2-nitro-1-naphthol adduct solutions showed no colour change from the yellow colour of the blank reagent solution, even though the Ultraviolet visible absorption spectra revealed the formation of charge transfer complexes. The adducts solutions of 4-nitro-1-naphthylamine, 2,4-dinitro-1-naphthylamine, 1-nitronaphthalene and 1,4-dinitronaphthalene showed no colour change from their blank reagent solutions and their Ultraviolet visible absorption spectra revealed no formation of charge transfer complexes. Conclusion Ultraviolet visible absorption spectral analysis shows superiority of N-(2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthyl)-p-toluenesulphonamide and 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol in charge-transfer complex formation over other nitroaromatics screened. N-(2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthyl)-p-toluenesulphonamide and 2, 4-dinitro-1-naphthol are good acceptors of electrons from these drugs, hence could be useful as charge transfer reagents in ultraviolet visible spectrophotometric analysis of these drugs.