Simple 13C‐NMR methods for quantitative determinations of polyflavonoid tannin characteristics

Abstract

AbstractA simple 13C‐NMR method for the quantitative determination of polyflavonoid tannin characteristics was developed. The system is effective for use on concentrated (25–50%) solutions of natural and modified tannins. It allows the determination of the average degree of polymerization (DPn) of the polyflavonoid, resorcinol vs. phloroglucinol proportion of the A‐ring and catechol vs. pyrogallol proportion of the B‐ring. The results obtained are consistent with existing data determined by other techniques. The method was also tried with tannin extract that was modified to form thermosetting adhesive intermediates, and with tannin modified by sulfonation, a common commercial modification for these materials. The results were again consistent with what was expected. The method affords the possibility to follow by a simple technique the variations in DPn and MM̄n (number‐average molecular weight) induced by chemical modifications of polyflavonoid tannin extracts and thus to correlate them with relevant structural modifications affecting these parameters. The method is not capable of distinguishing the relative proportions of the four important flavonoid units present in commercial polymeric tannin extract. It can only distinguish the relative proportions of (i) (procyanidins + prodelphinidins) vs. (profisetinidins + prorobinetinidins) and (ii) (prorobinetinidins + prodelphinidins) vs. (profisetinidins + procyanidins). © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.