Study of photochemical reactions of coniferyl alcohol. II. Comparative structural study of a photochemical and enzymatic polymer of coniferyl alcohol

Abstract

The structure of the polymer synthesized by UV irradiation of coniferyl alcohol was studied, using UV-visible, Raman, IR, LH-NMR and C-13-NMR spectroscopy. The photochemical polymer was compared with the structure of the polymer obtained by peroxidase-catalyzed polymerization of coniferyl alcohol. General similarity of the spectra of the two polymers was shown. However, differences in the fine structure of particular regions of the NMR spectra, as well as in certain bands in the Raman and IR spectra, could be explained through the various bond types and organization within the polymers. These results are consistent with molecular mass distribution of the polymers. Two fractions of enzymatic polymer correspond to the main two fractions of photochemical polymer. The later polymer has additional fractions that are probably the main reason for the observed spectral differences.