Kinetics and mechanism of degradation of ampicillin in solution

From gut to mud: dissemination of antimicrobial resistance between animal and agricultural niches

With increasing reports on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans, animals and the environment, we are at risk of returning to a pre-antibiotic era. Therefore, AMR is recognized as one of the major global health threats of this century. Antibiotics are used extensively in farming systems to treat and prevent infections in food animals or to increase their growth. Besides the risk of a transfer of AMR between the human and the animal sector, there is another yet largely overlooked sector in the One Health triad. Human-dominated ecosystems such as agricultural soils are a major sink for antibiotics and AMR originating from livestock farming. This review summarizes current knowledge on the prevalence of AMR at the interface of animal and agricultural production and discusses the potential implications for human health. Soil resistomes are augmented by the application of manure from treated livestock. Subsequent transfer of AMR into plant microbiomes may likely play a critical role in human exposure to antibiotic resistance in the environment. Based on the knowledge that is currently available we advocate that more attention should be paid to the role of environmental resistomes in the AMR crisis.

Delayed antibiotic exposure induces population collapse in enterococcal communities with drug-resistant subpopulations

The molecular underpinnings of antibiotic resistance are increasingly understood, but less is known about how these molecular events influence microbial dynamics on the population scale. Here, we show that the dynamics of E. faecalis communities exposed to antibiotics can be surprisingly rich, revealing scenarios where increasing population size or delaying drug exposure can promote population collapse. Specifically, we demonstrate how density-dependent feedback loops couple population growth and antibiotic efficacy when communities include drug-resistant subpopulations, leading to a wide range of behavior, including population survival, collapse, or one of two qualitatively distinct bistable behaviors where survival is favored in either small or large populations. These dynamics reflect competing density-dependent effects of different subpopulations, with growth of drug-sensitive cells increasing but growth of drug-resistant cells decreasing effective drug inhibition. Finally, we demonstrate how populations receiving immediate drug influx may sometimes thrive, while identical populations exposed to delayed drug influx collapse.

Mechanism of Ampicillin Degradation by Non-Thermal Plasma Treatment with FE-DBD

This research focused on determining the effectiveness of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma as an alternative to advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for antibiotic removal in solution. For this study, 20 mM (6.988 g/L) solutions of ampicillin were treated with a floating electrode dielectric barrier discharge (FE-DBD) plasma for varying treatment times. The treated solutions were analyzed primarily using mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The preliminary product formed was Ampicillin Sulfoxide, however, many more species are formed as plasma treatment time is increased. Ampicillin was completely eliminated after five minutes of air-plasma treatment. The primary mechanism of ampicillin degradation by plasma treatment is investigated in this study.

Fe(III)-promoted transformation of β-lactam antibiotics: Hydrolysis vs oxidation

The widely used β-lactam antibiotics are susceptible to oxidative and/or hydrolytic degradation promoted by some metal ions (e.g., Cu(II)). Ferric ions (Fe(III)) are among the most common metal ions, but their role in the environmental transformation and fate of β-lactam antibiotics is still unknown. This study elucidates that Fe(III) can promote degradation of β-lactam antibiotics under environmental aquatic conditions. Degradation rate constants of ampicillin (AMP) linearly increased with increasing Fe(III) concentration, but were independent of AMP concentration when AMP was higher than Fe(III) concentration. Neutral pH was most favorable for Fe(III)-promoted degradation of AMP, and the promoted degradation was also significant in real surface water and wastewater matrix. Among the various β-lactam antibiotics, Fe(III)-promoted degradation of penicillins was faster than that of cephalosporins. Product analysis indicated that only two isomers of hydrolysis products were observed without detection of oxidation products. The Fe(III)-promoted degradation likely occurred via complexation of β-lactam antibiotics with carboxyl group and tertiary nitrogen, and then enhancing the hydrolytic cleavage of β-lactam ring. This study is among the first to identify the role of Fe(III) in the degradation of β-lactam antibiotics and elucidate the mechanism. The new findings indicate iron species are among the factors affecting the environmental fate of β-lactam antibiotics.

Modeling solubility, acid-base properties and activity coefficients of amoxicillin, ampicillin and (+)6-aminopenicillanic acid, in NaCl(aq) at different ionic strengths and temperatures

The total solubility of three penicillin derivatives was determined, in pure water and NaCl aqueous solutions at different salt concentrations (from ∼0.15 to 1.0 mol L(-1) for ampicillin and amoxicillin, and from ∼0.05 to 2.0 mol L(-1) for (+)6-aminopenicillanic acid), using the shake-flask method for generating the saturated solutions, followed by potentiometric analysis. The knowledge of the pH of solubilization and of the protonation constants determined in the same experimental conditions, allowed us to calculate, by means of the mass balance equations, the solubility of the neutral species at different ionic strength values, to model its dependence on the salt concentration and to determine the corresponding values at infinite dilution. The salting parameter and the activity coefficients of the neutral species were calculated by the Setschenow equation. The protonation constants of ampicillin and amoxicillin, determined at different temperatures (from T=288.15 to 318.15K), from potentiometric and spectrophotometric measurements, were used to calculate, by means of the Van't Hoff equation, the temperature coefficients at different ionic strength values and the corresponding protonation entropies. The protonation enthalpies of the (+)6-aminopenicillanic acid were determined by isoperibol calorimetric titrations at T=298.15K and up to I=2.0 mol L(-1). The dependence of the protonation constants on ionic strength was modeled by means of the Debye-Hückel and SIT (Specific ion Interaction Theory) approaches, and the specific interaction parameters of the ionic species were determined. The hydrolysis of the β-lactam ring was studied by spectrophotometric and H NMR investigations as a function of pH, ionic strength and time. Potentiometric measurements carried out on the hydrolyzed (+)6-aminopenicillanic acid allowed us to highlight that the opened and the closed β-lactam forms of the (+)6-aminopenicillanic acid have quite different acid-base properties. An analysis of literature solubility, protonation constants, enthalpies and activity coefficients is reported too.

Stabilizing effect of citrate buffer on the photolysis of riboflavin in aqueous solution

In the present investigation the photolysis of riboflavin (RF) in the presence of citrate species at pH 4.0-7.0 has been studied. A specific multicomponent spectrophotometric method has been used to assay RF in the presence of photoproducts during the reactions. The overall first-order rate constants (k obs ) for the photolysis of RF range from 0.42 to 1.08×10(-2) min(-1) in the region. The values of k obs have been found to decrease with an increase in citrate concentration indicating an inhibitory effect of these species on the rate of reaction. The second-order rate constants for the interaction of RF with total citrate species causing inhibition range from 1.79 to 5.65×10(-3) M(-1) min(-1) at pH 4.0-7.0. The log k-pH profiles for the reactions at 0.2-1.0 M citrate concentration show a gradual decrease in k obs and the value at 1.0 M is more than half compared to that of k 0, i.e., in the absence of buffer, at pH 5.0. Divalent citrate ions cause a decrease in RF fluorescence due to the quenching of the excited singlet state resulting in a decrease in the rate of reaction and consequently leading to the stabilization of RF solutions. The greater quenching of fluorescence at pH 4.0 compared to that of 7.0 is in accordance with the greater concentration of divalent citrate ions (99.6%) at that pH. The trivalent citrate ions exert a greater inhibitory effect on the rate of RF photolysis compared to that of the divalent citrate ions probably as a result of excited triplet state quenching. The values of second-order rate constants for the interaction of divalent and trivalent citrate ions are 0.44×10(-2) and 1.06×10(-3) M(-1) min(-1), respectively, indicating that the trivalent ions exert a greater stabilizing effect, compared to the divalent ions, on RF solutions.

Kinetic studies of the degradation of an aminopenicillin antibiotic (amoxicillin trihydrate) in aqueous solution using heat conduction microcalorimetry

Recent developments in isothermal microcalorimetry allow the direct determination of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for slow reactions from studies conducted at appropriate temperatures and under designated environmental control. The degradation kinetics of amoxicillin trihydrate has been investigated as a function of pH (1–10) and temperature (303.15–318.15 K) at 0.5 M ionic strength using heat conduction microcalorimetry. Equations were developed incorporating calorimetric accessible data, rate constants and change in enthalpy, which showed that the degradation of amoxicillin trihydrate in aqueous solution followed pseudo-first-order kinetics under our experimental conditions. The enthalpy of degradation reaction was found to be exothermic in nature. The values of the rate constant k for individual steps were determined from the values of the overall rate constants at different pH. Energy of activation of overall reaction as a function of pH and for individual rate constants was determined. The log k-pH profiles indicated specific-acid and specific-base catalysis and there were inflection points near pH 3 and pH 7 corresponding to the pKa1 and pKa2 values. Quantitatively, there was good correlation between calorimetric determined half-life (t1/2) and the literature value in the acidic region determined by other methods at 310.15 K. The presence of a β-lactam ring and of an α-amino group in the C-6 side chain played a critical role in the degradation of amoxicillin trihydrate and the zwitterionic form of the drug was found to be more stable.

Fate and transport of antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes following land application of manure waste

Antibiotics are used in animal livestock production for therapeutic treatment of disease and at subtherapeutic levels for growth promotion and improvement of feed efficiency. It is estimated that approximately 75% of antibiotics are not absorbed by animals and are excreted in waste. Antibiotic resistance selection occurs among gastrointestinal bacteria, which are also excreted in manure and stored in waste holding systems. Land application of animal waste is a common disposal method used in the United States and is a means for environmental entry of both antibiotics and genetic resistance determinants. Concerns for bacterial resistance gene selection and dissemination of resistance genes have prompted interest about the concentrations and biological activity of drug residues and break-down metabolites, and their fate and transport. Fecal bacteria can survive for weeks to months in the environment, depending on species and temperature, however, genetic elements can persist regardless of cell viability. Phylogenetic analyses indicate antibiotic resistance genes have evolved, although some genes have been maintained in bacteria before the modern antibiotic era. Quantitative measurements of drug residues and levels of resistance genes are needed, in addition to understanding the environmental mechanisms of genetic selection, gene acquisition, and the spatiotemporal dynamics of these resistance genes and their bacterial hosts. This review article discusses an accumulation of findings that address aspects of the fate, transport, and persistence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in natural environments, with emphasis on mechanisms pertaining to soil environments following land application of animal waste effluent.

Degradation kinetics and isomerization of cefdinir, a new oral cephalosporin, in aqueous solution. 1

Hydrolytic degradation products of cefdinir were studied in acidic (pH 1), neutral (pH 6), and basic (pH 9) solutions. Seven major degradation products were isolated by preparative and/or high-performance liquid chromatography and characterized by UV, IR, 1H-NMR, and mass spectra. To clarify degradation pathways in each pH solution, kinetic and product analyses during hydrolysis of cefdinir were carried out along with the followup reaction of representative degradation products. Cefdinir was shown to degrade via two major degradation routes: beta-lactam ring-opening and pH-dependent isomerizations (lactonization, epimerization at C-6 or C-7, syn-anti isomerization of N-oxime function).

Thermodynamics of the hydrolysis of penicillin G and ampicillin

Apparent equilibrium constants and calorimetric enthalpies of reaction have been measured for the beta-lactamase catalyzed hydrolysis of penicillin G(aq) and ampicillin(aq) to penicillinoic acid(aq) and to ampicillinoic acid(aq), respectively. High-pressure liquid-chromatography and microcalorimetry were used to perform these measurements. The results for the reference reactions at T = 298.15 K and Im = 0 are: Ko = (9.4 +/- 3.1) x 10(-7), delta rGo = (34.4 +/- 1.0)kJ mol-1, delta rHo = -(73.7 +/- 0.4)kJ mol-1, and delta rSo = -(363 +/- 4) J K-1 mol-1 for penicillin G-(aq) + H2O(1) = penicillinoic acid2-(aq) + H+(aq); Ko = (6.0 +/- 3.0) x 10(-6), delta rGo = (29.8 +/- 1.7) kJ mol-1, delta rHo = -(70.0 +/- 7.5) kJ mol-1, and delta rSo = -(335 +/- 26) J K-1 mol-1 for ampicillin-(aq)+ H2O(1) = ampicillinoic acid2-(aq)+H+(aq). Calorimetric enthalpies of reaction for the beta-lactamase catalyzed hydrolysis of cephalosporin C have also been measured but the reaction products have not been identified and the measured enthalpies cannot be assigned to a specific reaction. Acidity constants for ampicillin, penicillin G, ampicillinoic acid, and penicillinoic acid are also reported. A strain energy of 116 kJ mol-1 for the beta-lactam ring is obtained from thermochemical data.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of some new tetrahydro-2H-1,3,5-thiadiazine-2-thione derivatives of ampicillin

Compounds having alpha-[dihydro-5-substituted 6-thioxo-2H- 1,3,5-thiadiazine-3(4H)-yl]benzylpenicillin structure were synthesized by the reaction of ampicillin trihydrate, formaldehyde and dithiocarbamic acid salts. The structures were evident from chemical and spectral analysis. The antimicrobial activities of the compounds were investigated against some gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria and some yeast-like fungi (Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. stellatoidea and C. pseudotropicalis) and molds such as Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, Penicillium and Aspergillus by the tube dilution method. In addition to MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration), MBC (minimal bactericidal concentration) and MFC (minimal fungicidal concentration) values were determined using ampicillin trihydrate as standard. The compounds synthesized were usually found as effective as ampicillin trihydrate against S. aureus and S. faecalis and less effective than ampicillin trihydrate against E. coli. Both the compounds synthesized and ampicillin trihydrate are ineffective in the concentrations studied against P. aeruginosa. Compound 10 and 11 are more effective against all the yeast-like fungi than the other compounds and ampicillin trihydrate.

Potential improvement in the shelf life of parenterals using the prodrug approach: bacampicillin and talampicillin hydrolysis kinetics and utilization time

The utilization time for a parenteral prodrug solution with a bioavailable fraction of unity was defined as the time during which the total of the prodrug concentration and the drug concentration equals or exceeds 90% of the initial prodrug concentration. This utilization time was calculated as a function of pH, buffer, and temperature using the experimentally determined rate expressions for bacampicillin and talampicillin. The results were compared to the shelf life of ampicillin solutions under identical storage conditions. First-order rate constants were determined for conversion of the prodrugs to ampicillin (kc), for beta-lactam degradation of the prodrugs (knc), for the overall loss of prodrugs (ksum), and for beta-lactam degradation of ampicillin (kh) in aqueous solutions at 25.0 to 60.0 degrees C, mu = 0.5, in the pH range 0.90 to 8.4. Loss of bacampicillin proceeded primarily by degradation at pH levels below 4 but was due predominantly to conversion at pH levels above 5. Loss of talampicillin was due primarily to conversion throughout the entire pH range. While the prodrug utilization times were approximately twice the shelf life of ampicillin in acidic solutions, ampicillin was significantly better in neutral solutions. The results illustrate the potential for increased prodrug storage periods when utilization time is defined on the basis of the bioactivity rather than on the prodrug concentration alone.

Methodological considerations for penicillin radioimmunoassay

The objective of this study was to identify and define factors that compromise the utility of radioimmunoassay for quantitation of beta-lactam antibiotics in biological aqueous fluids. Serum containing antibodies to benzylpenicillin coupled as a hapten to keyhole limpet hemocyanin was used as the assay primary antibody. Two significant factors that limited the utility of the assay were the tendency for penicillin to hydrolyze in aqueous solutions, resulting in a mixture of immunorecognizable forms; and in the hydrolyzed state, to bind covalently with matrix proteins. Assay sensitivity, crossreactivity, and assay binding parameters varied with the state of hydrolysis of penicillin in tracer, standards, and unknowns and with the composition of the assay buffer. Hydrolysis of the beta-lactam ring of penicillin immediately before assay by addition of 0.1 N NaOH or penicillinase resulted in improvements in assay repeatability and uniformity by forming predominantly the penicilloate form of the compound, which was immunologically well recognized by the antibody. Nonspecific binding of penicillin (and derivatives) to proteins in biological fluids such as milk or assay buffers was shown to be a possible cause of error in the immunoassay of penicillins.

A new spectrophotometric method for the selective determination of ampicillin, amoxycillin and cyclacillin in the presence of polymers and other degradation products

A rapid and convenient spectrophotometric method is described for the quantitative determination of ampicillin and other amino-penicillins. The method involves conversion of the penicillins to the corresponding piperazine-2,5-dione derivatives by heating in an alkaline sorbitol-zinc ion solution for 10 min at 60 degrees C and subsequent treatment of these derivatives with 1 M sodium hydroxide to give a highly absorbing product with lambda(max) at 322 nm. Since an intact beta-lactam moiety and a free amino group in the side-chain of the penicillin molecules are required for the piperazinedione formation, the method is highly selective. The method was found to be free of interference from polymerization and other degradation products and its application to assess the stability of the amino-penicillins was demonstrated.

The stability of amoxycillin sodium in intravenous infusion fluids

The stability of amoxycillin sodium has been determined at 25 degrees C in water and in ten intravenous infusion fluids at concentrations of 1, 2 and 5% w/v. Little difference in stability was found between 1% and 2% amoxycillin solutions in the various vehicles, but the antibiotic was significantly less stable at 5%. Stabilities in sodium and potassium chloride solutions were similar to those in water and were markedly superior to those in dextrose or dextran fluids. Solutions in lactate or bicarbonate had intermediate stability. The antibiotic was, for practical purposes, unstable in 30% sorbitol solution. Guidelines are provided for intravenous infusion of amoxycillin in the solutions studied.

Simultaneous partitioning and hydrolysis kinetics of amoxicillin and ampicillin

The kinetics of ampicillin and amoxicillin partitioning with simultaneous acid-catalyzed hydrolysis were studied in a stirred transfer cell containing isobutanol as the extract and aqueous hydrochloric acid (0.1-0.5 N) as the raffinate at 37 degrees. Biexponential data for the concentration in both the raffinate (C1) and the extract (C2) as a function of time were analyzed simultaneously by nonlinear regression to estimate the apparent first-order rate constant for transfer from hydrochloric acid to isobutanol (k '12), the reverse transfer constant (k '21), and the hydrolysis rate constant (k). Agreement between k values determined in the presence of simultaneous partitioning and those determined in the absence of partitioning (k app) verified the nonlinear estimates. Apparent partition coefficients, which represent the values that would be obtained in the absence of hydrolysis K'D = C1 infinity/C2 infinity), were estimated from K'D = k'12/k'21. During terminal monoexponential loss, where C1 approximately equal to Y'e-beta t and C2 approximately equal to Z'e-beta t, the kinetically controlled C2/C1 ratio (r) is described by [K'12/K'21-beta)], which decreases with decreasing kappa values until r approaches K'D. The difference between the terminal concentration ratio, r, and its corresponding partition coefficient, K'D, is a measure of the degree to which kinetic processes control distribution. Both ampicillin and amoxicillin showed kinetic control of the distribution ratios in 0.5 N HCl, where the hydrolysis rate constant was significant relative to the distribution rate constants. Ampicillin had r approximately equal to 1.74 and K'D approximately equal to 0.92; amoxicillin had r approximately equal to 0.95 and K'D approximately equal to 0.65. As the (K'12 + K'21/k ratio increased, the r values approached K'D so that in 0.1 N HCl, r approximately K'D = 0.33 for amoxicillin and r approximately 0.6 and K'D approximately 0.56 for ampicillin. In general, amoxicillin distribution rate constants (K'12 + K'21) were roughly twice those of ampicillin, whereas ampicillin K'D and r values were nearly double those of amoxicillin. Thus, the kinetic and thermodynamic rank orders are opposite. This result may have implications in drug design via molecular modification.

Degradation of mecillinam in aqueous solution

The hydrolysis of mecillinam in aqueous solution (37 degrees) was studied at pH 2-10. The degradation products observed by TLC and NMR were identified and quantified. Several of these compounds were synthesized. Mecillinam and the key degradation product, (6R)-6-formamidopenicillanic acid, underwent reversible 6-epimerization in basic solution. Some of the thiazolidine derivatives formed epimerized at position 2. In contrast to penicillins, the degradation pattern of mecillinam becomes more complex with increasing pH. Rate constants for some processes are given.

Isolation and identification of a fluorophore from ampicillin degradation

A fluorescent impurity in ampicillin has been isolated and identified as 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpyrazine. The product is formed under acidic conditions similar to those employed in some fluorometric assay procedures. The mechanism of the reaction is proposed to involve cyclization by condensation of the penilloaldehyde of ampicillin. The structure was confirmed by independent synthesis.

Physicochemical properties of amphoteric beta-lactam antibiotics I: Stability, solubility, and dissolution behavior of amino penicillins as a function of pH

The degradation rate, solubility, and dissolution rate of amino penicillins, amoxicillin, ampicillin, epicillin, and cyclacillin, were determined quantitatively as a function of pH. In the pH range studied, 0.30-10.50, the degradation of amoxicillin and epicillin followed pseudo-first-order kinetics to give the same type of pH-rate profiles as those of ampicillin and cyclacillin. Cyclacillin anhydrate was the most soluble, followed in order by ampicillin anhydrate, ampicillin trihydrate, amoxicillin trihydrate, and epicillin anhydrate. These pH-solubility profiles showed showed U-shaped curves. The dissolution rate constants from the rotating disk were analyzed by the simultaneous chemical reaction and diffusion models. Their relative bioavailability after a single oral administration was assessed from their physicochemical properties determined in vitro.

Hydrolysis and epimerization kinetics of hetacillin in aqueous solution

Methods were developed for quantitating epimerization to epihetacillin and hydrolysis to ampicillin in the alkaline degradation of hetacillin, and both rates in deuterium oxide at 35 degrees and in water at various temperatures were determined. In each case, plots of log k for the epimerization against pH or pD yielded straight lines with a positive slope, which verified the first-order dependence on the hydroxide ion or deuteroxide ion. The activation energy of the epimerization process was 21.2 kcal/mole. In aqueous solution at high pH, epimerization rather than conversion to ampicillin represents a major pathway of hetacillin degradation, although the beta-lactam ring of the hetacillin molecule is highly resistant to attack by the hydroxide ion.

Physicochemical properties of beta-lactam antibacterials: deuterium solvent isotope effect on penicillin G degradation rate

To obtain kinetic evidence on the degradation mechanism of penicillin in aqueous solution, degradation rates of penicillin G in water and deuterium oxide were measured in the pH (pD) range of 4-10. The solvent isotope effect (kH2O/kD2O) of 1.53 below pH (pD) 6 supports the mechanism of water-catalyzed rearrangement of undissociated penicillin G to benzylpenicillenic acid. The spontaneous degradation at neutral pH (pD) and the hydroxide-ion-catalyzed degradation in the alkaline pH (pD) range progress with a deuterium solvent isotope effect (kH2O/kD2O) of 4.5 and 0.59, respectively. This finding indicates the mechanisms of general base-catalyzed hydrolysis by water in the neutral pH range and of nucleophilic attack of the hydroxide ion on the beta-lactam in the alkaline pH range. No significant side-chain dependency was observed in the reaction of penicillins with bases. The solvent isotope studies led to the conclusion that penicillin degradation is catalyzed by a series of bases via general base-catalyzed and nucleophilic mechanisms, depending on their basicity.

Stability of frozen rat plasma containing different antibiotics

The antibiotic activity was determined at different intervals of time on plasma samples, taken from rats treated with a certain number of commonly used antibiotics, and kept at -20 C up to 8 weeks. The results of the microbiological assays demonstrate that the stability of the antibiotics in the frozen plasma decreases in the following order: oxytetracycline > cephalexin, streptomycin, erythromycin > demeclocycline > ampicillin, amoxycillin > penicillin G, cephaloridine, rolitetracycline, and tetracycline.

Rapid, precise, turbidometric assay for low levels of ampicillin in serum after single-dose oral administration

A turbidometric assay is described for the quantitative measurement of ampicillin in serum. Standard curves prepared with known concentrations of ampicillin in serum exhibited acceptable linearity over a concentration range of approximately 0.2 to 1.8 mug/ml. Data are presented to show the excellent precision of the assay and the application of the assay to clinical studies. The advantages of this method over other procedures are discussed. Because of the questionable stability of ampicillin, samples containing known concentrations of ampicillin in serum were assayed after storage for various lengths of time. Serum samples maintained in the frozen state until the time of assay exhibited approximately 12% degradation after 7 days, whereas those samples which were subjected to repeated thawing and refreezing exhibited approximately 25% degradation after the same time interval.

Spectrophotometric determination of ampicillin sodium in the presence of its degradation and polymerization products

A spectrophotometric method is described for the quantitative determination of ampicillin sodium [sodium salt of 6-(d(–)-phenylacetamido) penicillanic acid]. The method involves acetylation of ampicillin with acetic anhydride in aqueous solution at pH 9 to yield α-acetamido benzylpenicillin and subsequent measurement at 325 nm of α-acetamidobenzylpenicillenic acid mercuric mercaptide, formed in a quantitative yield on heating for 30 min at 60° in a 1·0m imidazole and 8 times 10−4m mercuric chloride solution at pH 6·8. It has been demonstrated that degradation products do not interfere in the method whereas those di- and polymerization products of ampicillin which contain an intact β-lactam ring are capable of reacting with imidazole with the formation of penicillenic acid. A technique involving acid-catalysed opening of the β-lactam ring of these products under conditions where ampicillin is degraded to only a minor extent has been developed, and besides permitting a selective determination of ampicillin the technique permits the determination of the polymeric substances.