The stability of aceclofenac under stress conditions was assessed to identify the degradation products. So, it was subjected to stress conditions like acid, base and oxidation, according to ICH guideline Q1A (R2). One degradation product formed when the drug was subjected to acid stress. Three degradation products were formed during the basic stress condition. The drug substance was found to be stable to oxidative stress. The degradants formed during the stress were separated on a C-18 column using gradient preparative HPLC elution. The only product (DP-2) formed during the acid stress and this one is same as of one of the three degradation products (DP-1, DP-2, DP-3) were formed during base stress. 1D and 2D NMR spectra and mass spectral analysis supported the proposed structures for the products. The products DP-2 and DP-3 have been reported earlier but this is the first report of product DP-1 as a degradation product of aceclofenac.

Domperidone, a gastroprokinetic agent, is a common drug to treat emesis. It was subjected to acid, base-mediated hydrolysis, peroxide-mediated oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation according to ICH guidelines to observe stability of the selected drug under the stress conditions. Although the drug is resistant to base hydrolysis, photolysis and thermal stressors, two degradants (DP-ISO1 and DP-ISO2) were formed in acid mediated hydrolysis. Oxidation with hydrogen peroxide also resulted in one product (DP-OX). All three degradants were isolated from the crude reaction mixture by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography. Structures of isolated compounds were unambiguously characterized as 5-chloro-1-(1-(3-(6-chloro-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)propyl)piperidin-4-yl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-one (DP-ISO1), 5-chloro-1-(3-(4-(5-chloro-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl)propyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-one (DP-ISO2), 4-(5-chloro-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)-1-(3-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)propyl)piperidine 1-oxide (DP-OX) by analysis of mass spectrometry, 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. To the best of our knowledge, DP-ISO1 and DP-ISO2 are new and DP-OX was previously reported as domperidone impurity.

Finasteride is a 5-α-reductase inhibitor with a steroidal skeleton and an amide group in its structure. It was subjected to forced degradation to observe its stability under stress conditions according to ICH guidelines. It was found to be stable to base and peroxide. However, in acid medium, three degradation products were observed. All of them were isolated from the reaction mixture by preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of 1D, 2D NMR spectra and HRMS. To best of our knowledge, none of them have been reported elsewhere.