Photochemically induced fluorimetric detection of tianeptine and some of its metabolites. Application to pharmaceutical preparation.

The photochemically induced fluorescence (PIF) properties of tianeptine and some of its metabolites were investigated in acidic (pH 2.3) water-alcohol mixtures at room temperature. Two PIF methods were developed, including bulk solution and flow injection analysis (FIA). Linear calibration plots were established over a concentration range of more than one order of magnitude. Limits of detection ranged from 15 ng ml-1 for FIA-PIF to 25 ng ml-1 in bulk solution. The RSDs were between 3 and 5%. The PIF methods were applied to the determination of tianeptine in a pharmaceutical preparation with recoveries varying from 96 to 106% in bulk solutions and from 98 to 106% for FIA-PIF.