Identification and Analysis of a Degradation Product of the Glucocorticoid Desonide in Ointment.

The major degradation product of desonide in a pharmaceutical ointment formulation has been shown to be identical with the C-17-carboxylic acid obtained on oxidative cleavage of the alpha-ketol group of desonide with alkaline hydrogen peroxide. The pKa value of this acid has been estimated from chromatographic data.