Enzymatic synthesis of primeverosides using transfer reaction by Trichoderma longibrachiatum xylanase

Enzymatic synthesis of two phenyl xylopyranosyl glucopyranosides, through transfer reaction by Trichoderma longibrachiatum endoxylanase, was achieved in the presence of n-hexane used as solvent, phenyl glucoside (10 mM) as acceptor and xylan (2 g/l) as donor. Kinetic study showed that only one compound, identified by 1H and 13C NMR and heteronuclear 2D (1H–13C) chemical shift correlation as phenyl primeveroside (phenyl 6-O-β-xylopyranosyl-1-β-d-glucopyranoside), was synthesized when the reaction time was beyond 1 h. Benzyl and hexyl primeverosides were obtained under the same conditions. When several phenyl glucoside concentrations, from 5 to 50 mM, were used with 2 g/l of xylan, a phenyl primeveroside isomer, identified as phenyl 4-O-β-xylopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, accumulated in the medium whereas the production of phenyl primeveroside decreased. Only phenyl primeveroside was produced when several xylan concentrations from 2 to 10 g/l were used with 10 mM of phenyl glucoside and its concentration in the reaction mixture increased with the increase of xylan concentration.