Novel direct preparation of n-butyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosidefrom chitosan and n-butanol using biocatalyst

n-Butyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside (C(4)GlcN) was prepared by t he novel direct transglycosylation reaction of chitosan and n-butanol using the resting cells of Penicillium funiculosum KY616 as the enzyme source of exo-beta-D-glucosaminidase. Using this strain, a versatile synthetic inter mediate, C4GlcN, was prepared in a yield of 210 mg/g chitosan when chitosan and n-butanol were incubated at a temperature of 30 degrees C and pH 4 for 2 d.