U.S. PHARMACOPEIA

Search USP29  
Secobarbital Sodium
C12H17N2NaO3 260.27

2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-Pyrimidinetrione, 5-(1-methylbutyl)-5-(2-propenyl)-, monosodium salt.
Sodium 5-allyl-5-(1-methylbutyl)barbiturate [309-43-3].
» Secobarbital Sodium contains not less than 98.5 percent and not more than 100.5 percent of C12H17N2NaO3, calculated on the dried basis.
Packaging and storage— Preserve in tight containers.
Labeling— Where it is intended for use in preparing injectable dosage forms, the label states that it is sterile or must be subjected to further processing during the preparation of injectable dosage forms.
Completeness of solution— Mix 1.0 g with 10 mL of carbon dioxide-free water: after 1 minute, the solution is clear and free from undissolved solid.
Identification—
A: The IR absorption spectrum of a chloroform solution of the residue of secobarbital obtained as directed in the Assay exhibits maxima only at the same wavelengths as that of a similar preparation of USP Secobarbital RS.
B: Ignite about 500 mg: the residue effervesces with acids, and responds to the tests for Sodium 191.
pH 791: between 9.7 and 10.5, in the solution prepared in the test for Completeness of solution.
Loss on drying 731— Dry it at 80 for 5 hours: it loses not more than 3.0% of its weight.
Heavy metals, Method II 231: 0.003%.
Organic volatile impurities, Method I 467: meets the requirements.
Isomer content— Dissolve about 300 ± 5 mg in 5 mL of sodium hydroxide solution (1 in 100), add a solution of 300 ± 5 mg of p-nitrobenzyl bromide in 10 mL of alcohol, reflux for 30 minutes, cool, collect the precipitate on a small filter, and wash with water: the precipitate, recrystallized from 25 mL of alcohol and dried at 105 for 30 minutes, melts between 156 and 161.
Residual solvents 467: meets the requirements.
(Official January 1, 2007)
Other requirements— Where the label states that Secobarbital Sodium is sterile, it meets the requirements for Sterility Tests 71 and for Bacterial endotoxins under Secobarbital Sodium for Injection. Where the label states that Secobarbital Sodium must be subjected to further processing during the preparation of injectable dosage forms, it meets the requirements for Bacterial endotoxins under Secobarbital Sodium for Injection.
Assay— Dissolve about 500 mg of Secobarbital Sodium, accurately weighed, in 15 mL of water in a separator. To the solution add 2 mL of hydrochloric acid, shake, and extract the liberated secobarbital with eight 25-mL portions of chloroform. Test for completeness of extraction by extracting with an additional 10-mL portion of chloroform and evaporating the solvent: not more than 0.5 mg of residue remains. Filter the extracts into a tared beaker, and finally rinse the separator and the filter with several small portions of chloroform. Evaporate the combined filtrate and washings on a steam bath with the aid of a current of air just to dryness. Dissolve the residue in 2 mL of dehydrated alcohol, and evaporate to dryness. Repeat the dissolution and evaporation with 2 mL of dehydrated alcohol, and dry the residue at 100 for 2 hours. The weight of the residue, multiplied by 1.092, represents the weight of C12H17N2NaO3.
Auxiliary Information— Staff Liaison : Ravi Ravichandran, Ph.D., Senior Scientist
Expert Committee : (MDPP05) Monograph Development-Psychiatrics and Psychoactives
USP29–NF24 Page 1952
Pharmacopeial Forum : Volume No. 29(6) Page 1978
Phone Number : 1-301-816-8330