EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON PRONASE CATALYZED ACYLATION OF ALCOHOLS IN ORGANIC-SOLVENTS

The effect of temperature on the pronase catalysed acylation of alcoho ls has been studied. The rate of enzyme catalysed acylation of n-propa nol with p-nitrophenyl acetate in acetonitrile increases almost linear ly upto the reflux temperature of the solvent. Non-catalysed acylation upto 56 degrees C is negligible. The acylation of 1, 4-cyclohexanedio l with acetic, propionic and hexanoic anhydride and p-nitrophenyl acet ate at different temperatures shows that the optimum temperature for p ronase catalysed acylation is about 56 degrees C. At higher temperatur es, there is an increase in the rate of nonenzymatic acylation and enz yme catalysed hydrolysis of the acylating agent. The hydrolytic reacti on is particularly rapid at higher temperature in the presence of wate r at a concentration (1.5% v/v) which is optimum for the enzymatic rea ction at ambient temperature.