Selective enzymatic preparation of vinyl sugar esters using DMSO as a denaturing co-solvent

The protease-catalyzed transesterifications between hexoses and divinyladip ate were examined. In dimethylformamide hexoses such as D-glucose, D-mannos e, D-galactose and alpha-methyl D-galactoside were esterified with divinyla dipate by alkaline protease from Streptomyces sp. to give corresponding 6-O -vinyl adipoyl sugars. When the denaturing cosolvent, DMSO, was added to th e solvent, galactose was selectively esterified at only the C-2 position.