Differentiation between sulfoaildenafil and its analogs

J AOAC Int. 2011 Nov-Dec;94(6):1770-7. doi: 10.5740/jaoacint.10-425.

Abstract

An analog of aildenafil, which is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5, was found in a dietary supplement marketed for enhancement of sexual function. The compound was isolated by silica gel column chromatography, and its structure was identified by means of 13C-NMR spectrometry, 1H-NMR spectrometry, high-resolution MS, and X-ray structure determination. The compound was identified to be sulfoaildenafil (other names: thioaildenafil, dimethyl sildenafil thione, and thiomethisosildenafil). Sulfoaildenafil is very similar to the compound thiohomosildenafil. As it is difficult to distinguish between them by LC-photodiode array detector analysis, ultra-performance LC (UPLC)/MS, ion trap LC/MS/MS (LC/IT-MS/MS), and GC/MS were performed. The mass spectra of thiohomosildenafil by UPLC/MS and LC/IT-MS/MS showed mass fragments of m/z 58, 72, and 355, and the mass spectrum by GC/MS showed mass fragments of m/z 56, 72, and 420. Some of these fragments had low intensities, but they were useful for distinguishing between the two compounds. The relationship between aildenafil (other names: dimethylsildenafil and methisosildenafil) and homosildenafil is similar to that between sulfoaildenafil and thiohomosildenafil. Therefore, these compounds were also examined.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 / analysis
  • Dietary Supplements / analysis*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / analysis
  • Piperazines / analysis*
  • Sulfones / analysis*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Substances

  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
  • Piperazines
  • Sulfones
  • sulfoaildenafil
  • thiohomosildenafil
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5