Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of faropenem in solid state.
Results: The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of degradation of faropenem were studied using an RP-HPLC method while the changes of spectral properties were investigated using derivative UV and FT-IR. Quantum-chemical calculations, based on the density functional theory, were carried out to support the estimation of the intra-ring stresses of faropenem and for theoretical interpretation of the spectra. The degradation of faropenem was a first-order reaction depending on the substrate concentration at an increased relative humidity and in dry air. The dependence ln k = f(1/T) became the ln k = (2.03 ± 3.22) × 104–(9761 ± 3052)(1/T) in dry air and ln k = (1.25 ± 0.22) × 105–(9004 ± 3479)(1/T ) at 90.0% RH. The thermodynamic parameters Ea, ΔH≠a, and ΔS≠a of the degradation of faropenem were calculated. The dependence ln k = f(RH%) assumed the form ln k = (7.58 ± 1.88) × 10−2 (RH%) – (5.90 ± 3.90) × 10−8.
Conclusions: Stability studies of faropenem showed that the fusion of β-lactam and thiazolidine rings reduces the intra-ring stress, leading to a lower susceptibility to degradation in dry air and at increased RH.