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Chemistry of the Condensed Tannin B-ring

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Chemistry and Significance of Condensed Tannins

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Abstract

The chemistry of the condensed tannin B-ring is closely related to that of the parent phenols — phenol, catechol, and pyrogallol. Many of the same reactions observed for the simple phenols can be reproduced on the tannin B-ring. These include esterification, etherification, and elec­trophilic addition for all the types, and metal chelation, oxidation, free-radical scavenging and ketal formation for the catechol and/or pyro­gallol related B-rings. The latter four characteristics are particularly important, contributing to the biological activity and potential utiliza­tion of the more common types of condensed tannins. The B-ring also has an important effect on the C-2 in the pyran ring. The reactivity of this position is discussed. There is a considerable amount of litera­ture available on the reactions of monomeric flavonoids. Inferences are drawn from this information about comparable reactions being possible for the condensed tannins.

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  1. Institute of Wood Research, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, 49931, USA

    Peter E. Laks

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  1. United States Department of Agriculture, Pineville, Louisiana, USA

    Richard W. Hemingway

  2. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA

    Joseph J. Karchesy

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© 1989 Plenum Press, New York

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Laks, P.E. (1989). Chemistry of the Condensed Tannin B-ring. In: Hemingway, R.W., Karchesy, J.J., Branham, S.J. (eds) Chemistry and Significance of Condensed Tannins. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-7511-1_15

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