Lipase catalyzed esterification reactions between lactic acid and several f
atty acids have been studied. Difficulties arise in esterifying lactic acid
because of the potential for this substance to act both as an acyl donor a
nd as a nucleophile. These difficulties were minimized via strategies which
greatly increased the yield of the desired ester. Use of the companion fat
ty acid in excess with respect to lactic acid in an apolar solvent (n-hexan
e) in which the lactic is not completely dissolved has been employed to min
imize the potential for lactic acid to act as an acyl donor in a self-polym
erization reaction.
Beneficial and sinergistic effects of both silica gel and molecular sieves
on conversion to the desired product are described. However, careful contro
l of the amount of molecular sieves used is required. This fact is a conseq
uence of two opposing effects of this material: i.e. adsorption of both lac
tic acid and water from the reaction mixture. For reaction between caprylic
and lactic acids, use of an excessive amount of enzyme reduces the extent
of conversion to 2-O-caproyl-lactic acid.
A very pure ester of the L-enantiomer (optical rotation of [alpha ]D-25 = -
23.5) can be prepared in n-hexane using a four fold excess of caprylic acid
and Candida antarctica lipase. Optimum reaction conditions lead to 35% yie
ld of 2-O-caproyl-lactic acid, a result which is close to the maximum yield
that can be enantioselectively obtained from commercial grade lactic acid
(68 mole per cent monomer). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reser
ved.