title: Chemoenzymatic solvent-free synthesis of 1-monopalmitin using a microwave reactor.
abstract: An environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of 1-monopalmitin has been developed. The procedure consists of a two-step, solvent-free chemoenzymatic reaction. In the first step, palmitic acid is esterified with solketal (4-hydroxymethyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane) using Novozym 435 by both conventional heating and microwave irradiation. The use of a microwave reactor allows the enzymatic synthesis of the intermediate compound with a similar yield as that achieved using conventional heating. In the second step, 1,2-acetonide-3-palmitoyl glycerol is cleaved to yield 1-monopalmitin by means of a cation-exchange resin and water or aliphatic alcohols as hydrolytic reagent in solvent-free conditions. The hydrolysis was accomplished in 15 min at 85 degrees C. The best yield was obtained using 1-pentanol. We conclude that the yield achieved depends on the batch and nature of the cation-exchange resin used as catalyst.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torregrosa
authors.forename: Mercé
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balcells
authors.forename: Mercé
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Canela-Garayoa
mesh_terms: D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005989:Glycerides / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008872:Microwaves; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D005989:Glycerides; C027735:palmitoyl glycerol