Spectrophotometric determination of pyridoxal and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolone hydrazone hydrochloride, and their selective assay
A spectrophotometric method with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolone hydrazone hydrochloride was developed for the determination of pyridoxal and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, and for the selective determination of each in the presence of the other. Pyridoxal and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate react with the reagent to yield the azine derivatives, which give characteristic absorption spectra. The highest extinction values are obtained when pyridoxal and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate are incubated at pH values of about 3·4 and 8·0 respectively; their maxima are at 430nm. (∈ 2·74×104) and 380nm. (∈ 2·24×104) respectively. The azine of pyridoxal is only slightly soluble under the neutral and alkaline conditions, whereas that of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate is substantially insoluble in the acid pH range. This difference in solubility of the azines made possible the selective determination of pyridoxal and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate. α-Oxoglutarate and pyruvate are among the substances shown not to interfere with the assay of pyridoxal; their derivatives absorb appreciably only at wavelengths below 420nm. For the assay of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate in the presence of these compounds measurement at 390nm. is necessary.