Isolation and characterisation of N-benzyl tadalafil as a novel adulterant in a coffee-based dietary supplement

Abstract

A new tadalafil analogue was detected via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detection (DAD) during routine screening of health foods suspected of adulteration with erectile dysfunction drugs. The UV absorption spectrum of the unknown was almost identical to that of tadalafil. The analogue was purified by preparative HPLC and structural elucidation carried out by mass spectrometric and NMR spectroscopic experiments. The spectral data revealed that this tadalafil analogue bears a benzyl group instead of the methyl group. The isolated compound was identified as N-benzyl tadalafil. Considering the risk it poses to public health, this new PDE-5 analogues for ED should be included on the inspection list for illegal products.