Enzymatic synthesis and NMR studies of acylated sucrose acetates

The lipase-catalyzed esterification of partially acetylated sucrose has bee n studied. It was shown that the chemical acetylation increased the reactio n rate of the subsequent enzymatic acylation. Thus it was possible to perfo rm the enzymatic acylation in the absence of solvents while underivatized s ucrose did not react. From HMBC NMR spectroscopy, it was concluded that the main site of acylation was the 6-position of the fructose moiety.