Functionalized branched EDOT-terthiophene copolymer films by electropolymerization and post-polymerization "click"-reactions.

The electrocopolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) with the branched thiophene building block 2,2':3',2″-terthiophene (3T) is presented as a versatile route to functional polymer films. Comparisons to blend systems of the respective homopolymers PEDOT and P3T by in situ spectroelectrochemistry and Raman spectroscopy prove the successful copolymer formation and the access to tailored redox properties and energy levels. The use of EDOT-N3 as co-monomer furthermore allows modifications of the films by polymer analogous reactions. Here, we exemplarily describe the post-functionalization with ionic moieties by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition ("click"-chemistry) which allows to tune the surface polarity of the copolymer films from water contact angles of 140° down to 40°.

Electropolymerized three-dimensional randomly branched EDOT-containing copolymers.

The potential of 2,2';3,2″-terthiophene (3T) as branching units in 3D copolymers is presented with EDOT as an example comonomer. Branched EDOT/3T polythiophenes were prepared by electropolymerization, and their electrochemical and optical properties are discussed. Two different approaches were employed: (i) the direct electropolymerization of a novel branched thiophene monomer (3TE3) consisting of a 3T core that contains three outer EDOT end groups and (ii) the electrochemical copolymerization of a EDOT/3T mixture in different ratios from [1:1] to [1:10]. Cyclic voltammetric and vis spectrometric experiments show that the EDOT content within the polymer has a strong influence on the electronic properties of the material: with increasing EDOT content, the HOMO-LUMO gap is decreased. To prove copolymer formation of EDOT and 3T, chemically synthesized reference copolymers of EDOT and 3T were prepared by oxidative coupling using FeCl3, and their optical and electronic properties were compared to those of the electrodeposited films. In addition, the copolymer formation is indicated by the comparison of the electrochemical and spectroscopic results with those of the homopolymers P3T and PEDOT.

Quantitative determination of phenolic compounds in artichoke-based dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Dietary supplements are among the most rapidly growing products in the food and personal care market with an estimated worldwide volume exceeding $60 billion. The main problem associated with dietary supplements is their legal classification. Being neither food nor medicine, they often inhabit a gray area between the two, which makes legal regulatory extremely difficult. Thus, a coexistence of products processed from the same botanical source on the same market as dietary supplement or pharmaceutical is possible. In the present study, various artichoke-based dietary supplements were investigated for their phenolic profile and compared to artichoke phytopharmaceuticals. Quantification of individual hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids was carried out by external calibration. For the first time, determination of several apigenin derivatives was included. Chlorogenic acid represented the major constituent in all samples investigated with the exception of juice derived from fresh flower heads, which exhibited a higher cynarin content. Furthermore, a distinction between products made from artichoke leaves or flower heads was possible. The results obtained revealed great diversity of pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, highlighting the need of standardized quality requirements.

Separation and quantification of inulin in selected artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) cultivars and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale WEB. ex WIGG.) roots by high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection.

The profile of fructooligosaccharides and fructopolysaccharides in artichoke heads and dandelion roots was investigated. For this purpose, a suitable method for high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometic detection was developed. The separation of monomers, oligomers and polymers up to a chain length of 79 sugar residues was achieved in one single run. Glucose, fructose, sucrose and individual fructooligosaccharides (kestose, nystose, fructofuranosylnystose) were quantified in six different artichoke cultivars and in dandelion roots. The contents ranged from 12.9 g/kg DM to 71.7 g/kg DM for glucose, from 15.8 g/kg DM to 67.2 g/kg DM for fructose, and from 16.8 g/kg DM to 55.2 g/kg DM for sucrose in the artichoke heads. Kestose was the predominant fructooligosaccharide, followed by nystose and fructofuranosylnystose. In four cultivars fructofuranosylnystose was only detectable in traces and reached its maximum value of 3.6 g/kg DM in the cultivar Le Castel. Furthermore, an average degree of polymerization of 5.3 to 16.7 was calculated for the individual artichoke cultivars, which is noticeably lower than hitherto reported. In contrast, the contents of kestose, nystose and fructofuranosylnystose in dandelion root exceeded that of artichoke, reflecting the short chain characteristic of the inulin, which was confirmed by chromatographic analysis.