Use of Mucor miehei lipase in the preparation of long chain 3-O-acylcatechins

Long chain 3-O-acylcatechins were prepared in high yield by alcoholysis wit h n-butanol of the corresponding pentaacylderivatives in the presence of li pase from Mucor miehei (immobilised, Lipozyme(R) IM). In an alternative pro cedure, the mixed ester, tetraacetyl-3-O-acylcatechin, was synthesised and used as substrate for the same alcoholysis process that proceeds with highe r reaction rate. The obtained 3-O-acyl derivatives are more lipophilic than the parent catechin and thus suitable for a possible application of their antioxidative properties in hydrophobic matrices. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.