Protolytic constants of nizatidine, ranitidine and N,N'-dimethyl-2-nitro-1,1-ethenediamine; spectrophotometric and theoretical investigation.

The prototropic exchange equilibria of two drugs, nizatidine (I) and ranitidine(II), and also of structurally related the N,N'-dimethyl-2-nitro-1,1-ethenediamine molecule (III) were investigated. From the changes in electronic spectra in media of various acidity several protonation constants were determined. For pK values were -0.82, 1.95, and 6.67; for ranitidine pK values were 1.95 and 8.13; and for III was 2.60. The hydroxylation equilibrium constant in strongly alkaline media was determined too. Corresponding pK(a) values were 13.23 for I, 13.36 for II and 13.76 for III. Molecular orbital calculations of electronic spectra confirmed that pK 1.95 for I and II, and pK 2.60 for III, are associated with C-protonation of nitroethenediamine fragment, while all pK(a) values correspond to the addition of HO- anion at the same double bond.