Spectrophotometric determination of some beta-blockers in dosage forms based on complex formation with Cu(II) and Co(II)

Four sensitive and accurate spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the assay of Acebutolol Hydrochloride (ACH), Atenolol (ATE) and Propranolol Hydrochloride (PRH), which are based on the complexation of drugs with copper(II) (Cu(II)) and cobalt(II) (Co(II)). The coloured products are measured at 613, 694, 548 and 614 nm for ACH-Co(II), ATE-Cu(II), PRH-Cu(II) and PRH-Co(II) method, respectively. The optimization of various experimental conditions is described. Conformity with Beer's Law was evident over a concentration range in the of 2x10^-5- 1x10^-2 mol/L. The molar absorptivity, detection and quantification limits are calculated. The results obtained showed good recoveries of 100.2 ± 1.1, 100.3 ± 1.2, 100.75 ± 1.0 and 99.55 ± 1.1 % with relative standart deviations of 0.410, 0.490, 0.161 and 0.140 % for ACH-Co(II), ATE-Cu(II), PRH-Cu(II) and PRH-Co(II) method, respectively. They were applied to the analysis of tablet forms of the drugs and the results were statistically compared with those obtained by official and literature methods using t- and F-tests. There were no significant difference among the mean values and precisions of the methods at 95% confidence level.