A unique class of lignin derivatives displays broad anti-HIV activity by interacting with the viral envelope.

In Gordts et al. (2015), we have shown that lignosulfonic acid, a commercially available lignin derivative, possesses broad antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Herpes simplex virus (HSV) by preventing viral entry into susceptible target cells. Because of the interesting safety profile as potential microbicide, we now determined the antiviral activity of a series of lignosulfonates in order to understand better which molecular features can contribute to their antiviral activity.

1H and 13C NMR data of benzylsulfonic acids-model compounds for lignosulfonate.

Although there has been a major progress in the analysis of native lignin using NMR in the recent years, not much attention has been paid to lignosulfonates. Lignosulfonates are more difficult to analyse because of solubility issues and a more complex structure owing to chemical modification during the pulping process. A large database of NMR data is available for the building blocks of native lignin, but no data are available for the corresponding sulfonated compounds.