Polycarboxylated compounds and compositions containing same

A polycarboxylated compound comprising phenylpropanoid units, wherein:

• each of the phenylpropanoid units comprises an α-carbon and a β-carbon;
• the phenylpropanoid units are linked to each other via linkages comprising one or more of a β-O-4 linkage, a β-1 linkage, a β-5 linkage, a 4-O-5 linkage, a 5-5 linkage, and a β-βlinkage;
• the phenylpropanoid units comprise β-O-4 phenylpropanoid units;
• each of the β-O-4 phenylpropanoid units is a single one of the phenylpropanoid units and is linked via its β-carbon with a β-O-4 linkage;
• each β-O-4 phenylpropanoid unit in at least a portion of the β-O-4 phenylpropanoid units comprises a secondary hydroxyl moiety on the α-carbon of the β-O-4 phenylpropanoid unit and a carboxylic acid or carboxylate moiety on the β-carbon of the β-O-4 phenylpropanoid unit;
• and
• the polycarboxylated compound comprises a molecular weight greater than 10,000 Da.

A polycarboxylated compound comprising phenylpropanoid units, wherein:

• each of the phenylpropanoid units comprises an α-carbon and a β-carbon;
• the phenylpropanoid units are linked to each other via linkages comprising one or more of a β-O-4 linkage, a β-1 linkage, a β-5 linkage, a 4-O-5 linkage, a 5-5 linkage, and a β-βlinkage;
• the phenylpropanoid units comprise β-O-4 phenylpropanoid units;
• each of the β-O-4 phenylpropanoid units is a single one of the phenylpropanoid units and is linked via its β-carbon with a β-O-4 linkage;
• each β-O-4 phenylpropanoid unit in at least a portion of the β-O-4 phenylpropanoid units comprises a secondary hydroxyl moiety on the α-carbon of the β-O-4 phenylpropanoid unit and a carboxylic acid or carboxylate moiety on the β-carbon of the β-O-4 phenylpropanoid unit;
• and
• the polycarboxylated compound comprises a molecular weight of from 7,500 Da to 10,000 Da.