Structure elucidation of a novel synthetic thiono analogue of sildenafil detected in an alleged herbal aphrodisiac

Abstract

A new analogue of sildenafil was detected in a herbal aphrodisiac. The structure of the compound was established using LC–MS, UV and IR spectroscopy, MS–MS, and NMR. The compound, named thio-homosildenafil is a synthetic N-ethylpiperazine analogue of sildenafil in which also the C O moiety has been converted into a C S group. This is the first time a sildenafil analogue modified at the chromophore was identified as an adulterant of a herbal aphrodisiac. Preliminary pharmacological analysis confirmed the erectogenic potency of thio-homosildenafil.