Enzymatic esterification of β-methylglucoside with acrylic/methacrylic acid in organic solvents

The enzymatic esterifications of beta-methylglucoside with acrylic acid/methacrylic acid were carried out using Novozym 435. t-Butanol indicating the highest conversion value was determined as an optimal solvent. The molar ratio (beta-methylglucoside: acids) of 1:15 was most favorable to the esterification. The enzyme concentration of 5% (w/v), and the temperature (50degreesC for beta-methylglucoside: acrylic acid, 45degreesC for beta-methylglucoside:methacrylic acid) resulted in the highest final conversion. beta-Methylglucoside of 60 g l(-1) was found to be most effective in terms of short reaction time as well as product concentrations. Under these conditions, the maximum conversions for the esterification of beta-methylglucoside with acrylic acid and beta-methylglucoside with methacrylic acid were 59.3% after 12h and 71.3% after 72h, respectively. The structural analysis of the products was performed by FT-IR spectroscopy and H-1 NMR. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.