Improved synthesis of sucrose fatty acid monoesters

The base-catalyzed synthesis of four sucrose fatty acid esters (caprylate, laurate, myristate, and palmitate) was performed in dimethylsulfoxide by transesterification of sucrose with the corresponding vinyl esters using disodium hydrogen phosphate as catalyst. In using a molar ratio sucrose/vinyl ester 4∶1 and mild reaction conditions (40°C and atmospheric pressure), yields were higher than 85%. The isolated sucroesters had a higher percentage of monoesters (≥90%) and a lower content of diesters in comparison with commercial derivatives. In all cases, 2-O-acylsucrose was the major product (≥60%) in the monoester fraction.