D-Glucose-fatty Acid Ester Synthesis with or without a Biocatalyst in the Same Organic Media

Esterification of D-glucose with oleic- and palmitic acids were carried out in the absence and presence of a biocatalyst, Candida antarctica lipase. The reaction medium was a mixture of dimethyl sulphoxide and tert-butanol (1:4, v/v). The reaction products were analysed by FTIR, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR, HSQC, and by ESI-MS. Results indicated that the ester products formed were 6-O-glucose oleate and 6-O-glucose palmitate both in the absence and in the presence of the biocatalyst, with yields above 90%.