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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Preparation of Binary and Ternary Deep Eutectic Systems
Published on: October 31, 2019
Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are viable cosolvents for enzyme-catalyzed epoxide hydrolysis
Diana Lindberg1, Mario de la Fuente Revenga, Mikael Widersten
1Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 576, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract:
A special group of ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been tested as cosolvents in enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of a chiral (1,2)-trans-2-methylstyrene oxide. The choline chloride:ethane diol (ET), choline chloride:glycerol (GLY) and choline:chloride:urea (REL) DESs were included in the reaction mixtures with epoxide and the potato epoxide hydrolase StEH1. The effect of the DESs on enzyme function was primarily elevations of K(M) (up to 20-fold) and with lesser effects on turnover numbers (twofold variation). The regioselectivity in hydrolysis of the (1R,2R)-2-trans-methylstyrene oxide was altered in the presence of GLY or ET to favor epoxide ring opening at the benzylic carbon (R=2.33), enhancing the regioselectivity observed in buffer-only systems (R=1.35). The DES solutions dissolved 1.5-fold higher epoxide concentrations as compared to phosphate buffer. The total conversion of high concentration (40 g/l) of (1S,2S)-MeSO was not negatively affected by addition of 40% GLY.
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