Determination of titanocene, a new drug with anticancer potential, and its metabolism in solution by capillary electrophoresis

Titanocene dichloride is one of the most promising cancerostatica of the future: nevertheless, its high activity against several tumor cells was discovered 20 years ago. Detailed knowledge of the mechanism of hydrolysis of titanocene dichloride and its stability in the infusion liquid is a prerequisite for clinical tests and for a successful application for permission as medication. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was used to observe the hydrolysis behavior of titanocene dichloride in aqueous solutions. The hydrolysis products were separated in a 20 mM phosphate buffer, pH 6, and in a 20 mM malic acid buffer, pH 3. Up to five hydrolysis products were obtained. A significant influence of the sample preparation (pH, isoionic additives) on the hydrolysis rate was observed. The hydrolysis products were characterized by the UV scan and the element‐selective particle‐induced X‐ray emission (PIXE) detection technique. The results obtained correspond with the hydrolysis mechanism described in the literature. The determination of free titanocene dichloride in human plasma failed due to the high affinity of the plasma proteins for this compound.