Strategies for the Biocatalytic Lipophilization of Phenolic Antioxidants

Maria H. Katsoura, Eleni Theodosiou, Haralambos Stamatis and Fragiskos N. Kolisis 

The modification of these natural polyhydroxylated compounds via acylation of the hydroxyl functions with aliphatic molecules not only increases their structural diversity, producing analogs that may be useful models for the study of structure-activity relationships, but also changes their physicochemical properties, increasing their solubility in lipophilic media. Moreover, the selective acylation of these natural compounds with various acyl donors could enhance their biological activities, such as their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, as well as their pharmacological properties [5, 6]. 

Modem Biocatalysis Stereoselective and Environmentally Friendly Reactions. Edited by Wolf-Dieter Fessner and Thorleif Anthonsen Copyright 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, Weinheim ISBN 978-3-527-32071-4 

On the other hand, several groups have reported the use of ionic liquids (organic salts consisting only of ions, Uquid at or near room temperature) as media for the biocatalytic modification of polyhydroxylated compounds, including ascorbic acid 

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