Identification of a propantheline analog in propantheline bromide tablets

A major impurity in a sample of propantheline bromide tablets has been identified as 9-hydroxypropantheline on the basis of the proton magnetic resonance (PMR) and mass spectra (MS). This identification was confirmed by methanolysis of the tablet extract, which yielded a mixture of methyl xanthanoate and methyl 9-hydroxyxanthanoate. A liquid chromatographic (LC) procedure is described which will permit quantitation of 9-hydroxypropantheline bromide in the presence of propantheline bromide, xanthone, and xanthanoic acid.