Phenolic Compounds: Classification, Chemistry, and Updated Techniques of Analysis and Synthesis

Abstract

Phenolic compounds are vast, diverse, ubiquitous and widespread in nature. The biological significance of bioactive phenolic natural secondary metabolites is immense and of high and significant importance. Phenolic compounds are known to exhibit various biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This book chapter begins with classification of phenolic compounds in concise manner followed by going through their chemical properties that are essential for their biological activities. Some chemical properties such as acidity and formation of radicals are directly linked with their important and key biological activities such as antioxidant properties. The chapter covers methods and updated techniques of analysis of phenolic compounds. Finally, biosynthesis of such important organic molecules is covered going through some of their current synthesis methods in the laboratory, methods of their synthetic elaboration. Due to the high potential of phenolic compounds for applications in various industries such as pharmaceutical and food industries, the search for the development of efficient methods for their synthesis as well as modern and accurate methods for their detection and analysis will continue.

Recent trends on the application of phytochemical-based compounds as additives in the fabrication of perovskite solar cells

“…121,123 The presence of an –OH functional group in their structure gives phenolic compounds the ability to scavenge free radicals and block UV light, making them good for reducing degradation and defects in PSCs. 123…”

Biosynthesis of Artemisia abyssinica Leaf Extract-Mediated Bimetallic ZnO–CuO Nanoparticles: Antioxidant, Anticancer, and Molecular Docking Studies

“…However, polyphenols most commonly contain phenolic acids, stilbenes, and lignin groups. Among the phenolic acids accounts for the majority of polyphenols in most reported literature and also are those with the most active sites than the rest . Therefore, the scheme of the proposed reaction mechanism of formations of ZC NPs is presented as follows.…”

Phenolic Compounds in Bacterial Inactivation: A Perspective from Brazil

“…The high consumption of foods rich in phenolic compounds can prevent a series of diseases [ 40 ]. Furthermore, studies indicate great biological potential associated with these compounds [ 7 ], including antiviral, antioxidant, antitumor, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, fungal, and antibacterial activities [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. In the next topics, we will address the compounds formed from these pathways.…”

“…Among these compounds, we highlight the presence of phenolic groups. Phenolic compounds encompass many substances that are produced through the secondary metabolism of plants, fungi, and bacteria, in addition to being produced by chemical synthesis [ 6 , 7 ]. Studies indicate that there are several pharmacological activities associated with these compounds, including antibacterial activity [ 8 , 9 ].…”