Synthesis of sucrose acetate using a solvent‐stable serine protease from Serratia sp. SYBC H

Abstract

AbstractSugar esters have several applications in a variety of industrial processes, including their use as biodegradable surfactants in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries and as antitumoral agents and plant growth inhibitors. Most of the sucrose monoesters described in the literature have been enzymatically synthesized from the primary hydroxyls (1′‐OH, 6‐OH, and 6′‐OH) of sucrose. In this study, we report a simple procedure for the regioselective acylation of a secondary hydroxyl (4′‐OH) of sucrose. Sucrose‐4′‐acetate was efficiently synthesized from sucrose and vinyl acetate in anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide using a solvent‐stable serine protease from Serratia sp. SYBC H. When the sucrose/vinyl acetate molar ratio, protease concentrations, and reaction times are equal to or above 1:8, 25 mg/mL, and 21 h at 30°C, respectively, the yield of sucrose‐4′‐acetate can exceed 90%. The described protocol of enzymatic synthesis of sucrose‐4′‐acetate can improve possible applications of sucrose esters in various fields.