Structural elucidation of new ferulic acid-containing phenolic dimers and trimers isolated from maize bran

The structures of four new phenolic dimers and trimers that contain ferulic acid moieties isolated from maize bran fiber were established by 1D/2D NMR and mass spectrometry. The trimers were found to expand the number of products potentially involved in cell wall cross-linking whereas the biological role of the dimers partially remains uncertain.