Regioselective acylation of pyridoxine catalyzed by immobilized lipase in ionic liquid

The regioselective acylation of pyridoxine catalyzed by immobilized lipase (Candida Antarctica) in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM]PF₆) has been investigated, and compared with that in acetonitrile (ACN). The acetylation of pyridoxine using acetic anhydride in BMIM]PF₆ gave comparable conversion of pyridoxine to 5-monoacetyl pyridoxine with considerably higher regioselectivity (93%–95%) than that in ACN (70%–73%). Among the tested parameters, water activity (a_w) and temperature have profound effects on the reaction performances in either BMIM]PF₆ or ACN. For the reaction in BMIM]PF₆, higher temperature (50°C–55°C) and lower a_w (<0.01) are preferable conditions to obtain better conversion and regioselectivity. Mass transfer limitation and intrinsic kinetic from the ionic nature of ionic liquids (ILs) may account for a different rate-temperature profile and a lower velocity at lower temperature in BMIM]PF₆-mediated reaction. Moreover, consecutive batch reactions for enzyme reuse also show that lipase exhibited a much higher thermal stability and better reusability in BMIM]PF₆ than in ACN, which represents another advantage of ILs as an alternative to traditional solvents beyond green technology.