Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Hierarchical and Programmable One-Pot Oligosaccharide Synthesis
Published on: September 6, 2019
Enzymatic synthesis of a galactopyranose sophorolipid fatty acid-ester
Alberto Nuñez1, Thomas A Foglia, Richard Ashby
1Fats, Oils and Animal Coproducts Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, USA. anunez@arserrc.gov
Abstract:
Sophorolipid lactones produced by Candida bombicola were deacetylated and ring opened with sodium methoxide to their corresponding methyl esters. The methyl esters, after re-acetylation with vinyl acetate using an immobilized lipase, were transesterified with 1,2-3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-D-galactopyranose in tetrahydrofuran using the same lipase catalyst. The di-O-isopropylidene sophorolipid sugar esters were hydrolyzed to give the galactopyranose sophorolipid esters as the final products.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Alkylation of β-Diester Enolates: Malonic Ester Synthesis
Oligosaccharide Assembly
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholine in the ER Membrane
The major components of all eukaryotic cell...
Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Saponification
The reaction requires a base in stoichiometric amounts, which participates in the reaction and is not regenerated later. So, the base acts as a...
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...

