INITIAL WATER-CONTENT AND LIPASE-MEDIATED ESTER FORMATION IN HEXANE

Lipase biocatalysis was investigated as a tool for the production of e sters by two model reactions, esterification of 1-butanol with 2-methy l-1-pentanoic acid and irreversible transesterification between 2-meth yl-1-pentanol and vinyl acetate. The reactions were carried out in hex ane using lipases from Candida cylindracea and porcine pancreas. The i nitial water content influenced both the yield of the ester and the en antioselectivity of the reaction (esterifications) or the ester format ion only (transesterifications).