Enzymatic synthesis of symmetrical 1,3-diacylglycerols by direct esterification of glycerol in solvent-free system

Abstract

1,3-Diacylglycerols were synthesized by direct esterification of glycerol with free fatty acids in a solvent-free system. Free fatty acids with relatively low melting points (<45°C) such as unsaturated and medium-chain saturated fatty acids were used. With stoichiometric ratios of the reactants and water removal by evaporation at 3 mm Hg vacuum applied at 1 h and thereafter, the maximal 1,3-diacylglycerol content in the reaction mixture was: 84.6% for 1,3-dicaprylin, 84.4% for 1,3-dicaprin, 74.3% for 1,3-dilinolein, 71.7% for 1,3-dieicosapentaenoin, 67.4% for 1,3-dilaurin, and 61.1% for 1,3-diolein. Some of the system's parameters (temperature, water removal, and molar ratio of the reactants) were optimized for the production of 1,3-dicaprylin, and the maximal yield reached 98%. The product was used for the chemical synthesis of 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-eicosapentaenoylglycerol. The yield after purification was 42%, and the purity of the triacylglycerol was 98% (both 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-eicosapentaenoylglycerol and 1,2-dicapryloyl-3-eicosapentaenoylglycerol included) by gas chromatographic analysis, of which 90% was the desired structured triacylglycerol (1,3-dicapryloyl-2-eicosapentaenoylglycerol) as determined by silver ion high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis.