Ternary complexes can be classified into two major categories: a mixed-ligand complex type and an ion-association complex type. The modes of formation of both types of ternary complex, together with improvements in sensitivity and selectivity which accompany their formation, have been extensively discussed [1][2][3][4][5] in the field of inorganic analysis.In one of the methods to increase the determination sensitivity of organic compounds, the binary ion-pair complex formation between an organic dye and an organic compound has often been used. [6][7][8] The method is complicated since it requires an extraction procedure due to the formation of water-insoluble complexes. And the addition of a surfactant or water-miscible organic solvent to avoid to any extraction procedure usually causes decomposition of the ion-pair complex formed, and the organic compound cannot be determined any longer.We have already reported 9-11 some simple and sensitive spectrophotometric methods for the determination of organic compounds by utilizing the ion-association complex formation among an organic compound, an organic dye, and a metal ion.Quinolone antibiotics [12][13][14] have recently attracted much interest, because they exhibit broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, excellent oral bioavalability, good tissue penetration and favorable safety and tolerability profiles. As all quinolone types 15 with antibacterial activity have 4-quinolone nucleus with a nitrogen at position 1, a carboxyl group at position 3, and a ketone at position 4, absorption of orally administered quinolones is significantly decreased when these agents are coadministered with aluminum, magnesium, calcium, iron or zinc, because of the formation [16][17][18][19] On the other hand, quinolone antibiotics complexation with aluminum(III), magnesium(II) and calcium(II) have been studied by spectrophotometry. 35,36 We noticed that an addition of acidic xanthene dyes such as erythrosin (ERY) in the reaction between a quinolone antibiotic and aluminum(III) showed a red shift as compared with that of the ERY-aluminum(III) solution, and that the magnitude of the increase in absorbance of the ERY-aluminum(III) solution was proportional to the concentration of a quinolone antibiotic. A method using ERY-aluminum(III) solution offers the advantages of greater sensitivity as compared with the conventional spectrophotometric methods. 20,21 In this work, a color reaction of quinolones by utilizing an ion-association complex formation among a quinolone, a metal ion and an organic dye was studied in aqueous media, and then suitable conditions for the spectrophotometric determination of quinolones by using aluminum(III) and ERY were established. The proposed method was applied to the assays of these drugs in pharmaceutical preparations.
ExperimentalReagents, solutions and apparatus Reagents and solutions. Ofloxicin (OFX) and other quinolone antibiotics (norfloxacin, enoxacin and levoxacin), analyticalgrade reagents, were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Co., and used without further...