Abstract
The enzymatic synthesis of alkyl β-xylosides from xylobiose and alcohols through the transxylosyl reaction of Aspergillus niger IFO 6662 enzyme was studied. Various alkyl β-xylosides were effectively synthesized from xylobiose and water miscible alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol. The molar ratios of the products, respective β-xylosides and xylose, were approximately 1:1, indicating a theoretical yield for the transfer reaction. Various water insoluble alcohols, such as 1-butanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, benzyl alcohol and 2-butanol, were also acted as effective acceptors for the transxylosyl reaction, where a great part of the synthesized β-xylosides was found in the insoluble alcohol layer, only xylose and a trace of xylobiose being found in the water layer. Therefore, the synthesized β-xylosides, such as 1-hexyl β-xyloside, could be readily separated from the reaction mixture and crystallized after evaporation of the insoluble alcohol.
