Acceleration of enzyme‐catalyzed reactions in organic solvents by crown ethers

Abstract
Crown ethers can strongly enhance the transesterification of N‐acetyl‐1‐phenylalanine ethyl ester with 1‐propanol catalyzed by α‐chymotrypsin in various organic solvents. Of the different crown ethers tested, 18‐C‐6 gave the best results. It was found that a macrocyclic effect is responsible for the observed rate enhancement. It is proposed that the water‐ and cation‐complexing ability of crown ethers plays a key role in the observed rate enhancement.