The qualitative electrochemical determination of clarithromycin and spectroscopic detection of its structural changes at gold electrode

The aim of the present study was the qualitative determination of the pure clarithromycin using a gold electrode in neutral electrolyte by cyclic linear sweep voltammetry. It was shown that in the range of −1.2 V to 1.0 V vs. SCE in 0.05 M NaHCO3, a gold electrode is successfully employed for the qualitative determination of clarithromycin by detection of the reproductive four anodic and one cathodic peaks. After the potentiostatic measurements at the potential values corresponded to current peaks, the bulk electrolyte was analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy to show the changes in molecular structure of clarithromycin. FTIR analysis of the bulk electrolyte after 4 h of holding the potential at −0.61 V vs. SCE (cathodic peak) showed the apparent changes in clarithromycin molecule structure: in the ester bond of the lactone and in ethers and acetal bonds.