Determination of thiol-containing drugs by chemiluminescence-flow injection analysis.

A flow injection analysis procedure with chemiluminescence detection for the determination of both thiol-containing drugs and the amino acid cysteine is described. Procedures are based on the inhibition by the drugs of the chemiluminescence generated in the copper-catalysed oxidation of luminol by hydrogen peroxide. The proposed methods were applied to the determination of cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, penicillamine, 2-mercaptopropionylglycine and thiouracil in pharmaceuticals.