Electrochemical oxidation of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) on carbon electrodes

In aqueous solutions containing 30% (v/v) acetonitrile the unprotonated form of the piperazine ring of sildenafil (I) is oxidized on a glassy carbon electrode between pH 2 and 8. Whereas citrate anions under conditions used are not oxidized, the oxidation pattern of sulfonamides differs from that of sildenafil (I). On the other hand, the oxidation of I resembles that of the oxidation of piperazine ring in nefazodone (III) and trazodone (IV). A more positive peak of sildenafil corresponds to an adsorption–desorption process. Measurement of the peak current enables rapid determination of sildenafil (I) in pharmaceutical preparations with sufficient accuracy.