Process intensification of immobilized lipase catalysis by microwave irradiation in the synthesis of 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) esters

Process intensification using immobilized enzymes for the development of white biotechnology

Process intensification of biocatalysed reactions using different techniques such as microwaves, ultrasound, hydrodynamic cavitation, ionic liquids, microreactors and flow chemistry in various industries is critically analysed and future directions provided.

Prediction of esterification rate constants for secondary alkan-2-ols based on one- and two-parameter Taft equations

Equilibrium constants and reaction rate constants for the esterification of secondary alkan-2-ols with acetic acid were measured at 60°C in 1,4-dioxane. Taft coefficients, as single parameter (without inductive effects), and two-parameter correlation (including inductive and steric effects), of the measurements were used for the prediction of esterification rate constants for secondary alkan-2-ols with monocarboxylic acids. For this prediction, previously observed results of linear correlation of rate constants for the esterification of propan-1-ol with monocarboxylic acids measured under identical experimental conditions were applied. Two parameter Taft equations for the correlation of secondary alkan-2-ols and for monocarboxylic acids were combined, resulting in an overall correlation equation usable for the prediction of reaction rates for secondary alkan-2-ols with any monocarboxylic acid. This equation was experimentally verified for the esterification of three randomly chosen alkan-2-ols with three randomly chosen monocarboxylic acids.

A Green Process for Synthesis of Geraniol Esters by Immobilized Lipase from Candida Antarctica B Fraction in Non-Aqueous Reaction Media: Optimization and Kinetic Modeling

Enzymatic synthesis of molecules such as flavors, perfumes and fragrances has a great commercial advantage of being marketed as “natural” and also it offers exquisite selectivity of enzymes that can be superior over chemical catalysis. The current work focuses on the enzymatic synthesis of geranyl acetate as model compound, including optimization of reaction conditions such as nature of catalyst, reaction media, speed of agitation, mole ratio and temperature. A variety of esters were also synthesized. Geraniol was esterified with various acids, aromatic esters and vinyl esters in 1:4 molar ratio. Among all vinyl ester was the best giving in good yield (77–100 %) as compared to aromatic esters (5–82 %) and acids (7–31 %). Novozym 435 was found to be most active catalyst with ~96 % conversion and 100 % selectivity in 60 min at 55 °C in n-heptane as solvent for geranyl acetate. The maximum reaction rate was estimated (Vmax = 0.2712 mol L−1 min-1) by using the double reciprocal plot. It is a ternary complex (ordered bi-bi) mechanism with inhibition by geraniol.

An efficient condensation of substituted salicylaldehyde and malononitrile catalyzed by lipase under microwave irradiation

Lipase-catalyzed condensation of substituted salicylaldehyde and malononitrile under microwave irradiation.