Enzyme Catalyzed Regioselective Synthesis of Sucrose Fatty Acid Ester Surfactants

Abstract
A commercial subtilisin preparation was used in pyridine to catalyze the regioselective conversion of sucrose and fatty acid vinyl esters into the 1′-O-acyl sucrose derivatives. The 1′-O-laury sucrose, 1′-O-myristyl sucrose and 1′-O-stearyl sucrose were obtained as the major products of these reactions. The 1′,6-di-O-acyl sucrose derivatives were also obtained as minor products. The critical micellar concentration (CMC) of each of these sucrose monoesters was determined.