Efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of 4-nitrophenyl β-d-apiofuranoside and its use in screening of β-d-apiofuranosidases

•An apiose-based chromogenic probe was synthesized in good yield.•β-d-Apiofuranosidase activity was detected in 15 out of 61 crude enzyme preparations•Only enzyme preparations from aspergilli comprised the β-d-apiofuranosidase activity [Display omitted] 4-Nitrophenyl β-d-apiofuranoside as a chromogenic probe for detection of β-d-apiofuranosidase activity was prepared in 61% yield from 2,3-isopropylidene-α,β-d-apiofuranose through a sequence of five reactions. The synthesis involves one regioselective enzymatic step—benzoylation of primary hydroxyl of 2,3-isopropylidene-α,β-d-apiofuranose catalysed by Lipolase 100T and stereoselective β-d-apiofuranosylation of p-nitrophenol using BF3⋅OEt2/Et3N. The product was used for screening of β-d-apiofuranosidase activity in 61 samples of crude commercial enzymes and plant materials. Fifteen enzyme preparations originating from different strains of genera Aspergillus display β-d-apiofuranosidase activity. The highest activity was found in Rapidase AR 2000 (78.27 U/g) and lyophilized Viscozyme L (64,36 U/g).