Reverse hydrolytic process for O-alkylation of glucose catalysed by immobilized α- and β-glucosidases

The α- and β-glucosidases showed significant O-glycosylation activity with glucose as substrate and with different alcohols both as reaction partners and solvents in reverse hydrolytic processes. With native glucosidases, upscaling resulted in low yields due to heterogeneity of reaction mixtures and the aggregation of undissolved enzymes in organic media. Immobilization of the enzymes on a modified polyacrylamide-type bead support (Acrylex C-100) increased enzyme stability resulting in higher yields and permitted to perform glucosylations on a larger scale. From these experiments O-alkyl glucosides were isolated in moderate yields.