Synthesis of geranyl acetate by transesterification of geraniol with ethyl acetate over Candida antarctica lipase as catalyst in solvent‐free system

• Published in: Flavour and Fragrance Journal
• Main Authors: Bhavsar, Kalpesh V., Yadav, Ganapati D.
• Other Authors: University Grants Committee
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2019
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ffj.3502; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fffj.3502; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ffj.3502; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/ffj.3502

Abstract Increasing environmental awareness has forced researchers to minimize the use of organic solvents in chemical synthesis. Modern biocatalysis is a way to develop clean catalytic technologies. A process operating in solvent‐free condition using reusable biocatalyst, will be useful for the fragrance and flavour industry, which requires stringent specifications on impurities. A direct transesterification reaction of geraniol with ethyl acetate was carried out to produce geranyl acetate in a batch reactor using different immobilized enzymes. Among these, Novozyme 435 was the best catalyst for the synthesis of geranyl acetate in a solvent‐free medium. Parametric studies were conducted to optimize the conversion and yield. Overall, 83% conversion of geraniol with 100% selectivity to geranyl acetate was obtained at a mole ratio of 1:7 of geraniol to ethyl acetate, using 12.7 g L −1 Novozyme 435 at 60 °C for 2 h. At higher concentrations of acyl donor, it was noticed that the conversion of geranyl acetate was increased. The Lineweaver–Burk plots suggested a ternary complex with inhibition by ethyl acetate. The process is green, clean, and useful to the perfume and flavour industries.