Enzymatic synthesis of trehalose esters having lipophilicity.

To improve trehalose lipophilicity, trehalose was regioselectively esterified with vinyl fatty acid esters in dimethyl formamide by protease from Bacillus subtilis to give 6-O-lauroyltrehalose, 6-O-myristoyltrehalose, 6-O-palmitoyltrehalose, 6-O-stearoyltrehalose, 6-O-oleoyltrehalose and 6-O-linoleoyltrehalose. The influence of structural variation by changing fatty acid substitute was examined by measurement of the surface tension and biodegradability.