Molecular and Quantum Mechanical Study for the Separation of Cefprozil in the Presence of Its Alkaline Degradation Product Using RP-HPLC with UV Detection.

A reversed-phase HPLC method (RP-HPLC) with UV detection was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of cefprozil, a second-generation cephalosporin. Due to β-lactam ring instability under alkaline conditions, this RP-HPLC method was applied for the determination of cefprozil in the presence of its possible degradation product. The interactions that govern the separation process with stationary phase were investigated at both molecular and quantum mechanical levels. Moreover, electrostatic potential maps were generated to determine the sites of interaction with mobile phase. The suggested method was validated in compliance with International Conference on Harmonization guidelines and successfully applied for the determination of cefprozil in its commercial pharmaceutical formulation.