PRELIMINARY PHOTOSTABILITY STUDY OF 1- (FUR-2- YL)-2- NITROPROP-1- ENE

Abstract

1- (fur-2- yl) -2- nitroprop-1- ene (UC-244) is a highly bioactive compound, synthesized in the Center for Bioactive Chemicals at the Central University of Las Villas from sugar cane production wastes. In this work, a preliminary photostability study was carried out as part of the chemical and pharmaceutical analysis prior to product formulation. The effect of sunlight (exposure or protection) on product stability – in terms of organoleptic properties, melting point and UC-244 content - was evaluated both in solid state and in 80:20 acetonitrile-water solutions. In order to determine the UC-244 content in all samples under study, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure was validated. This chromatographic technique demonstrated to be specific and linear in the range from 5 mg/L to 40 mg/L, as well as precise and accurate under the conditions studied. Degradation of solid samples exposed to light was higher than 90 % in 7 days, whereas those samples protected from sunlight suffered a degradation of only a 25.5 % after 150 days. Liquid samples exposed to light suffered a degradation higher than 90 % in only 50 s, but in those protected from light, UC-244 content only decreased in about 5 % after 50 days. All degraded samples showed significant changes in their organoleptic properties and an increase in their melting point. Therefore, it can be concluded that any formulation developed with UC-244 should be adequately protected from light.