Enzymatic glucosylation of hydrophobic alcohols in organic medium by the reverse hydrolysis reaction using almond‐β‐D‐glucosidase

Abstract Alkyl β‐ D ‐glucosides were synthesized from D ‐glucose and alcohols by reverse hydrolysis using the commercially available almond β‐ D ‐glucosidase in 9:1 (v/v) acetonitrile–water medium. The main characteristics of this enzyme‐catalyzed glucosylation were established by using 2‐hydroxybenzyl alcohol. The reaction is entirely regio‐ and stereoselective. The solvent plays a fundamental role because, by decreasing the water concentration in the medium, the shift of the reaction equilibrium toward synthesis is realized without using an excessive amount of alcohol. Nevertheless, a minimum amount of water is necessary to maintain the enzyme activity. In contrast to the use of the enzyme in aqueous medium, the pH of the added water in acetonitrile did not influence the synthesis. Using this procedure, we have conducted systematic glucosylation of numerous alcohols and we have investigated enzyme specificity and alcohol reactivity. The enzyme has a pronounced affinity for the alcohols containing a phenyl group, and enantioselectivity for the aglycon is obtained with 1‐phenylethyl alcohol. Moreover, by using almond β‐ D ‐glucosidase it was also possible to synthesize alkyl β‐ D ‐galactosides. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.