The separation of some tricyclic antidepressants by high-performance liquid chromatography
Detaevernier, M.R.; Dryon, L.; Massart, D.L.
Journal of Chromatography 128(1): 204-207
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9673 PMID: 993298 Document Number: 101552
The tricyclic antidepressants, amitriptyline (AMI), nortriptyline (NOR), protriptyline (PRO), imipramine (IMI), trimipramine (TRI) chlorimipramine [CIMI] and desipramine [DESI] were studied. Silica was chosen as the adsorbent because its slightly acidic properties allow a good retention of the basic drugs. The mixture dichloromethane-n-heptane was used as a solvent with an intermediate strength. Isopropranol was added as a modifier in order to achieve a uniform activity of the silica. Two groups of substances were easily identified in all of the chromatograms. The substances which contained in their side chain the more polar secondary amine function (NOR, DESI and PRO) interacted more strongly with the stationary phase than those containing tertiary amine function (TRI, CIMI, AMI and IMI). The most important factor influencing the chromatographic migration was the base content (propylamine) of the eluent.