| abstract |
A process for the selective hydrolysis of triglycerides to mixtures of 1,3 or 2,3-diacyl glycerides and 2-acyl glycerides is disclosed. This process uses an alkyl alcohol selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-2-propanol, 2-butanol and the primary, secondary or tertiary branched or straight chain alkyl alcohols having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, an aqueous buffer system and a 1,3-lipase. The 2-acyl glycerides in the mixture are esterified to make stereospecific 1,2-diacyl glycerides or 2,3-diacyl glycerides with acid anhydrides and a lipase catalyst. Under the reaction conditions, there is little rearrangement of the diacyl glycerides in the mixture and less than 20% triglyceride is formed. Stereospecific 1,2,4-triglycerides can be made from these materials by standard esterification reactions under conditions which control rearrangement. |