Regioselective hydrolysis of peracetylated alpha-D-glycopyranose catalyzed by immobilized lipases in aqueous medium. A facile preparation of useful intermediates for oligosaccharide synthesis.

Penta-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranose was selectively deacetylated in aqueous media by lipases from Candida cilindracea (CCL) adsorbed on octyl-agarose support. Enzymatic hydrolyses was regioselective at the 4-position under neutral pH and towards the 6 position under acidic conditions. This enzymatic approach allows the one step synthesis of 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoses 1, a useful intermediate in oligosaccharide synthesis.