Lipase-catalyzed glucose fatty acid ester synthesis in ionic liquids.

[reaction: see text] Glucose fatty acid ester synthesis with poly(ethylene glycol)-modified Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) was performed in pure 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM][BF(4)] (30% conversion) and in pure 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM][PF(6)] (35% conversion). In a solvent system composed of ionic liquid and 40% t-BuOH conversions up to 90% and isolated yields of up to 89% were achieved using fatty acid vinyl esters as acyl donors and commercial CAL-B.