Lipase-catalysed ammoniolysis of lipids. A facile synthesis of fatty acid amides

Abstract

Ammoniolysis of triglycerides to the corresponding fatty acid amides is efficiently catalysed by Candida antarctica lipase (Novozym 435). Thus, olive oil gave 90% of nearly pure oleamide after 72 h at 60°C. Jojoba wax was similarly converted into a mixture of cis-11-eicosenamide and erucamide together with cis-11-eicosenol and cis-l3-docosenol.