Synthesis of thymol glycosides under SCCO2 conditions using amyloglucosidase from Rhizopus mold.

Enzymatic synthesis of water soluble thymol glycosides were carried out using amyloglucosidase from Rhizopus mold under supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) conditions of 120 bar pressure at 50 °C. Thymol 1 formed glycosides with D-galactose 2, D-mannose 3, D-fructose 4, D-ribose 5 and D-arabinose 6 in yields ranging from 20.6% to 54.2%. Spectral characterization studies revealed that the reaction occurred between the phenolic OH group of thymol and 1-O/2-O groups of D-fructose and C-1 group of D-galactose, D-mannose, D-ribose and D-arabinose resulting in monoglycosylated/arylated derivatives.