Separation, analyses and syntheses of trimethoprim impurities

The analysis of several impurities of the chemotherapeutic agent trimethoprim with various methods, including thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography, capillary electrophoresis as well as nuclear magnetic resonance is described. These methods were used to identify new impurities in trimethoprim batches. The main impurities were separated by column chromatography. To ensure the identity of the impurities, de novo syntheses were successfully carried out. With the methods described, it was possible to detect, separate and identify new impurities in trimethoprim batches.