title: Efficient preparation of (R)-alpha-monobenzoyl glycerol by lipase catalyzed asymmetric esterification: optimization and operation in packed bed reactor.
abstract: Optically active (R)-alpha-monobenzoyl glycerol (MBG) was synthesized by Candida antarctica lipase B (CHIRAZYME L-2) catalyzed asymmetric esterification of glycerol with benzoic anhydride in organic solvents. Various conditions, such as the type and composition of the organic solvent, water content of the system, reaction temperature, and concentrations of the substrates were systematically examined and optimized in screw-capped test tubes with respect to both the reaction rate and the enzyme selectivity. 1,4-Dioxane was found to be the best solvent and no additional water was needed for the system. The optimum temperature was around 30 degrees C, while the most suitable substrate concentrations were 100 mM each for glycerol and benzoic anhydride, respectively. However, when excessive anhydride (e.g., 200 mM) was used, the produced MBG could be further transformed into 1,3-dibenzoyl glycerol (DBG) by the same enzyme with a priority to (S)-MBG, resulting in a significant improvement of the product optical purity from ca. 50-70% e.e. Under optimal conditions (100 mM glycerol, 100-200 mM benzoic anhydride, dioxane, 25-30 degrees C), the enzymatic synthesis of (R)-MBG was successfully operated in a packed-bed reactor for about 1 week, with an average productivity of 0.79 g MBG/day/g biocatalyst in the case of continuous operation and 0.94 g MBG/day/g biocatalyst in the case of semicontinuous operation. After refinement and preferential crystallization of the crude product, (R)-MBG could be obtained in an almost optically pure form (>98% e.e.).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Enzyme Chemistry, Biotechnology Research Center, Toyama Prefectural University, Kurokawa 5180, Kosugi-machi, Imizu-gun, Toyama 939-0398, Japan.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asano
mesh_terms: D001565:Benzoates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D002384:Catalysis; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D004952:Esters / Q000737:chemistry; D005990:Glycerol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008049:Lipase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D004952:Esters; D012997:Solvents; C401742:monobenzoyl glycerol; D014867:Water; C102988:benzoic anhydride; D008049:Lipase; D005990:Glycerol