Electrochemical reduction of secnidazole and its determination in tablets

The electrochemical reduction of secnidazole has been carried out in aqueous solution in the pH range of 2.0–12.0 by DC polarography, AC polarography and cyclic voltammetry. Two well‐defined reduction waves appear in acidic media, whereas at higher pHs the two waves overlap. The variation of E 1/2 or E p and I lim or I p with pH was studied. The diffusion‐controlled nature of the waves was established and the irreversibility of the electrode process was verified by different criteria. The mechanism of reduction was discussed. A method for the detemination of secnidazole by DC polarography at pH 8.5 which allows quantitation over the 1 × 10 −5 M‐4 × 10 −4 M range was proposed and applied to the determination of secnidazole in tablets. The mean recovery was 99.67% and the relative standard deviation was 0.89%. Excipients did not interfere in the determination.