Enzymatic synthesis of benzoin in supercritical carbon dioxide

Abstract

Enantioselective enzymatic hydrolysis of benzoyl-benzoin catalyzed by Candida cylindracea (CCL) lipase was carried out in SCCO 2. It was found that CCL lipase enantioselectively hydrolyzed the ( R)-benzoin. The enantiomeric excess of product (ee p) was maximized at 35 °C near the critical region 90 bar and obtained 61.3% at a 50% conversion. CCL did not catalyze the reaction in an atmospherical condition.