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Dimenhydrinate
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C17H21NO·C7H7ClN4O2 469.96

1H-Purine-2,6-dione, 8-chloro-3,7-dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-, compd. with 2-(diphenylmethoxy)-N,N-dimethylethanamine (1:1).
8-Chlorotheophylline, compound with 2-(diphenylmethoxy)-N,N-dimethylethylamine (1:1) [523-87-5].
» Dimenhydrinate contains not less than 53.0 percent and not more than 55.5 percent of diphenhydramine (C17H21NO), and not less than 44.0 percent and not more than 47.0 percent of 8-chlorotheophylline (C7H7ClN4O2), calculated on the dried basis.
Packaging and storage— Preserve in well-closed containers.
Identification—
A: It meets the requirements under Identification—Organic Nitrogenous Bases 181.
B: Dissolve about 250 mg in 15 mL of diluted alcohol, add 15 mL of water and 2 mL of 2 N sulfuric acid, and cool for 30 minutes. Scratch the inside of the container to facilitate crystallization. Filter the mixture, wash the crystals with a few mL of ice-cold water, and dry the crystals: the 8-chlorotheophylline melts between 300 and 305 with decomposition.
C: To about 10 mg of the 8-chlorotheophylline obtained in Identification test B, contained in a porcelain dish, add 1 mL of hydrochloric acid and 100 mg of potassium chlorate, evaporate on a steam bath to dryness, and invert the dish over a vessel containing a few drops of ammonia TS: the residue acquires a purple color, which is destroyed by solutions of fixed alkalies.
D: Mix about 50 mg of the 8-chlorotheophylline obtained in Identification test B with about 500 mg of sodium peroxide in a nickel crucible, and heat until the mass is well sintered. Dissolve the melt in 20 mL of water, acidify with 2 N nitric acid, filter if necessary, and add 1 mL of silver nitrate TS: a curdy, white precipitate is formed, and it is soluble in 6 N ammonium hydroxide and reappears upon acidification with nitric acid.
Melting range 741: between 102 and 107.
Loss on drying 731 Dry it in vacuum over phosphorus pentoxide for 24 hours: it loses not more than 0.5% of its weight.
Residue on ignition 281: not more than 0.3%.
Bromide and iodide— Mix in a test tube 100 mg of Dimenhydrinate, 50 mg of sodium nitrite, and 10 mL of chloroform. Add 10 mL of 3 N hydrochloric acid, insert the stopper in the tube, and shake: the chloroform remains colorless.
Chloride— When the ammoniacal filtrate from the precipitation of silver chlorotheophylline in the Assay for 8-chlorotheophylline is acidified preparatory to titration, the solution shows not more than a faint opalescence.
Organic volatile impurities, Method V 467: meets the requirements.
Solvent— Use dimethyl sulfoxide.
Residual solvents 467: meets the requirements.
(Official January 1, 2007)
Assay for diphenhydramine— Dissolve about 150 mg of Dimenhydrinate, accurately weighed, in 75 mL of glacial acetic acid, and titrate with 0.05 N perchloric acid VS, determining the endpoint potentiometrically. Perform a blank determination, and make any necessary correction. Each mL of 0.05 N perchloric acid is equivalent to 12.77 mg of diphenhydramine (C17H21NO).
Assay for 8-chlorotheophylline— Place about 800 mg of Dimenhydrinate, accurately weighed, in a 200-mL volumetric flask, add 50 mL of water, 3 mL of 6 N ammonium hydroxide, and 6 mL of ammonium nitrate solution (1 in 10), and warm the mixture on a steam bath for 5 minutes. Add 25.0 mL of 0.1 N silver nitrate VS, mix, and warm on a steam bath for 15 minutes with frequent shaking. Cool, dilute with water to volume, mix, and allow the precipitate to settle. Filter through a dry filter paper, discarding the first 20 mL of the filtrate. Pipet 100 mL of the filtrate into a 250-mL flask, acidify with nitric acid, and add an excess of 3 mL of the acid. Add 2 mL of ferric ammonium sulfate TS, and titrate the excess silver nitrate with 0.1 N ammonium thiocyanate VS. Each mL of 0.1 N silver nitrate is equivalent to 21.46 mg of C7H7ClN4O2.
Auxiliary Information— Staff Liaison : Elena Gonikberg, Ph.D., Scientist
Expert Committee : (MDGRE05) Monograph Development-Gastrointestinal Renal and Endocrine
USP29–NF24 Page 720
Pharmacopeial Forum : Volume No. 29(5) Page 1466
Phone Number : 1-301-816-8251