Application of 2-acetylbutyrolactone to spectrofluorimetry: Fluorescence properties of Schiff bases derived from 2-acetylbutyrolactone and spectrofluorimetric determination of primary amine-containing compounds

2-Acetylbutyrolactone (ABL) has been characterized for use as a fluorogenic reagent for the spectrofluorimetric determination of primary amines. The reagent forms strongly fluorescent Schiff bases upon the reaction with primary amines in acid-catalized aqueous solutions or in dimethylformamide (DMF). Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and ampicillin sodium (AMP Na) were used as model amines of type ArNH2 and RNH2, respectively. The reaction conditions, fluorescence spectral properties and the stability of the derivatives have been investigated. The chemistry and the pathway of the reaction have been discussed. Calibration data, accuracy, precision, limits of detection, limits of quantification and other aspects of analytical merit were presented in the text. The utility of ABL for the analysis of the model drugs in pharmaceutical preparations was demonstrated. The results indicated that the proposed methods are equally accurate and precise as the official or other reported methods.