Glycolipids are biodegradable, non-toxic surfactants with a wide range of applications. Enzymatic esterification or transesterification facilitated in reaction media of low water activity is a reaction strategy for the production of tailor-made glycolipids as a high structural diversity can be achieved. Organic solvents, ionic liquids, and deep eutectic solvents have been applied as reaction media. However, several challenges need to be addressed for efficient (trans-)esterification reactions, especially for the lipophilization of polar substrates. Therefore, crucial parameters in (trans-)esterification reactions in conventional and non-conventional media are discussed and compared in this review with a special focus on glycolipid synthesis.
Keywords: Biosurfactants; Deep eutectic solvents; Enzymatic synthesis; Glycolipids; Lipases.
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