Inclusion Compounds in Pharmaceutical Analysis I: Determination of Dienestrol in Dienestrol Cream

Large ratios of monostearin to dienestrol in cream formulations complicate the development of an assay for dienestrol. Monostearin was removed easily in a test-tube procedure by channel-type inclusion in urea. Dienestrol recovery was complete and reproducible analyses were obtained by polarography of the nitrosophenol derivative. Urea inclusion may offer a general approach to analytical methodology where long-chain compounds need be separated from active ingredients.