Enzyme catalysed synthesis of some adipic esters

Lipases from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) and Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme IM) showed good reactivity in the alcoholysis of dimethyl adipate by racemic 2-ethylhexanol as well as neopentyl glycol. Novozym 435 was found to be the more reactive biocatalyst but less enantioselective compared with Lipozyme IM in the synthesis of methyl-2-ethylhexyl adipate. Di-2-ethylhexyl adipate obtained was optically inactive. Using dimethyl adipate and neopentyl glycol as starting material, oligomer esters with different range of molecular mass were synthesised (Novozym 435). An attempted of alcoholysis of dimethyl adipate by non-linear trihydric trimethylolpropane was unsuccessful.