English Abstract Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) has been
coupled to Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) by means of a
spray jet interface. The usefulness of the interface for impurity profiling
of steriods has been demonstrated by the analysis of two samples of
testosterone undecanoate. Valuable structural information on impurities
>=5% was obtained either by library searching of the produced FTIR spectra,
or by interpretation. Identification of two of the impurities, testosterone
enanthate and testosterone decanoate, was hampered by the fact that both
compounds may occur in a crystalline and in an amorphous state. The spectra
of the compounds recorded in the amorphous state appeared to be highly
similar.
