Synthesis of Glycidyl Acrylate in Organic Solvents Catalyzed by Lipase.

Lipase-catalyzed transesterification of 2, 3-epoxy-l-propanol (glycidol) with viny acrylate was carried out to synthesize glycidyl acrylate (GA) in organic solvents. Lipase PS was the most appropriate enzyme for the synthesis of GA among three kinds of lipases studied. While the initial rate of reaction was fast in hydrophobic solvents such as toluene and isooctane, the conversion after 4h was almost same in toluene and in hydrophilic tert-amyl alcohol. Initial rate of the reaction in tert-amyl alcohol increased by the addition of small amount of water, neutral polymeric surfactants, poly (ethylene glycol), and poly (N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). The conversion increased further when lipase-PVP complex was previously formed.