Lipase-catalyzed transesterification of ethyl formate to octyl formate

The preparation of octyl formate via lipase-catalyzed transesterification of ethyl formate with 1-octanol is demonstrated. To shift the equilibrium of the reaction, ethyl formate was added in surplus but could be partially recovered for subsequent reactions. The same was true for the biocatalyst (Novo435), which could be reused at least 27 times. ethod gives simple access to a hydrophobic formic acid ester, which can be used as a reactive organic phase in biocatalytic redox reactions. The enzymatically prepared octyl formate can be utilized by formate dehydrogenase to regenerate NADH from NAD+.