A simple and quantitative method for analysis of methoxyamine by capillary zone electrophoresis

Methoxyamine (MX) is a potential new chemotherapeutic agent. In structure, MX lacks a chromophore for spectrophotometric detection. Derivatization of MX with chromophoric 4-(diethylamino)benzaldehyde (DEAB) was performed and the resultant MX derivative (DBMOH⁺) can be analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with ultraviolet (UV) detection at 200 nm. The limit of detection (SD/S = 3.3) of the method for MX was 2.50 μM with a 2 s injection at the pressure of 3.45 kPa. The linear calibration range for MX was 5.00-500 μM using N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine (DMPT) as the internal standard. The intra- and inter-assay precision and accuracy of the method were ≤4% and within 98.4-104%, respectively. This method may be used for the quantitative determination of MX in pharmaceutical preparations.