Kinetics of drug decomposition. Part 45. Logk--pH profile for rolitetracycline degradation.

UV spectrophotometry and fluorometry were applied for an examination of rolitetracycline (RT) degradation at pH's ranged from ca 0-8 to 13-0. It was demonstrated that these methods enable to follow the rate of degradation of tetracycline formed in the course of RT hydrolysis. However, they do not allow to monitor the hydrolysis of RT to tetracycline. Application of the so-called "subtraction technique" permits to calculate the rate constants for the total, reversible epimerization reaction and for the subsequent degradation of the resultant products. A rate equation derived for RT degradation in an alkaline medium beginning at pH 10-5 contains a term second-order in the hydroxide ion. Such a relationship was not yet observed in the course of an antibiotic degradation.