Differentiation between sulfoaildenafil and its analogs

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.