Identification and Characterisation of New Vardenafil Analogue Illegally Added to Pressed Candies

Abstract

The illegal addition of a vardenafil analogue to pressed candies was identified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Subsequently, the compound was extracted with acetonitrile under sonication, followed by separation and purification by semi-preparative HPLC. The structure of the compound was determined using high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results indicated that the compound was a vardenafil analogue with a molecular formula of C₂₄H₃₄N₆O₄S. In this compound, the ethoxy group attached to the benzene ring of vardenafil was replaced with a propoxy group. Therefore, the chemical name of this analogue is propoxyphenyl vardenafil. The illegal addition of this compound to functional foods has not been previously reported; therefore, this should be brought to the attention of regulatory authorities, and the compound should be considered in tests for illegal additives in functional and health foods.