Identification of isomeric dicaffeoylquinic acids from Eleutherococcus senticosus using HPLC-ESI/TOF/MS and 1H-NMR methods.

Liquid chromatography-electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/TOF/MS) and a novel NMR technique, developed to maximise the sensitivity obtained from the standard NMR spectrometer, have been applied to the identification of the phenolic constituents of Eleutherococcus senticosus. In addition, molecular modelling and dihedral bond angle calculations based on the vicinal 3JHH-coupling constants have been used in the unambiguous assignment of signals in the 1H-NMR spectra. 5'-O-Caffeoylquinic acid and three isomeric compounds, 1',5'-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3',5'-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4',5'-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, have been isolated and identified from a sample. The isolation and structure determination of the latter two compounds are reported for the first time from this plant.