Identification of 1’,5’-naphthyridinophthalone and its quantification in the color additive D&C Yellow No. 10 (Quinoline Yellow) using high-performance liquid chromatography

ABSTRACT

The present work reports the identification and characterization of a contaminant, 2-(2ʹ-(1,5-naphthyridinyl))-1,3-indanedione (1ʹ,5ʹ-naphthyridinophthalone, 1,5NP), in the color additive D&C Yellow No. 10 (U.S.-certifiable form of Quinoline Yellow), together with its quantification in batches of the color additive certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). The impurity, which is a compound not previously reported in the literature, was synthesised and characterised for use as a reference material. Test portions from 26 certified batches of D&C Yellow No. 10 submitted to USFDA by four domestic and four foreign manufacturers were analyzed for 1,5NP using high-performance liquid chromatography. The results revealed a wide range of 1,5NP levels across batches, with 18 (69.2%) of the test portions containing amounts from 0.32 to 169.94 µg g⁻¹ while the remaining test portions contained no detectable (<0.07 µg g⁻¹) amounts. Samples of the European and Japanese forms of Quinoline Yellow were also analyzed and found to contain a wide range of 1,5NP levels. The varying levels of 1,5NP in all three forms of Quinoline Yellow suggest that contamination can be significantly decreased or eliminated through manufacturing adjustments. Since 1,5NP is closely related to a D&C Yellow No. 10 contaminant (quinophthalone) that has a USFDA-specified limit of 4 µg g⁻¹ and is a known allergen, assessment of the possible allergenicity of 1,5NP is warranted.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Color additive D&C Yellow No. 10
• Quinoline Yellow
• 2-(2ʹ-(1; 5-naphthyridinyl))-1
• 3-indanedione
• 1ʹ5ʹ-naphthyridinophthalone
• newly identified contaminant
• HPLC

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to Robert Weisz (IBM, Toronto, Canada) for the Graphical Abstract cartoon.