Rapid-screening detection of acetildenafils, sildenafils and avanafil by ion mobility spectrometry

Ion mobility spectrometry was used as a rapid screening tool for the detection of acetildenafils, sildenafils and avanafil within adulterated herbal supplement matrices. Acetildenafils show a tendency for partial fragmentation during the desorption/ionization process affording two peaks in the ion mobility spectrum in addition to the intact compound. The fragmentation appears to occur α to the carbonyl group along the CN bond attaching the piperazine moiety, producing a common fragment (K₀=1.0280 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹) along with the respective piperazine fragment. The sildenafils and avanafil afford one molecular ion peak per compound.