RP-HPLC and non-aqueous CZE methods were evaluated for qualitative and quantitative analysis of esterified macrocyclic compounds of the DOTA family (DOTA = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic: acid). This group of compounds represents important reaction intermediates in synthesis of magnetic resonance contrast agents.
Calibration curves in the concentration range from 1.0 x 10(-5) to 1.0 x 10(-3) mol/L were plotted and the experimental data were critically compared in terms of their repeatability, linearity, LOD and LOQ. The optimized methods were successfully applied to the analysis of a real reaction mixture without any further pretreatment.