Site-Selective Lipase-Catalyzed Acylation and Deacylation in the Synthesis of Valuable Carbohydrates and Flavonoids From Naturally Abundant Starting Materials

Abstract Achievements in site-selective transformations in the field of carbohydrate and flavonoid synthesis are presented in this chapter. In the examples, commercially available lipase-catalyzed acylation and deacylation are especially emphasized. Modification of rate and selectivity by protein engineering of the enzyme catalysts is not discussed in this chapter; instead, the above-mentioned catalytic reactions are elucidated based on reaction conditions such as the solvent and structures of the nucleophiles and substrates. Throughout this chapter, the importance of the choice of the synthetic precursors on the overall synthetic scheme under conditions where the acyl groups are utilized as protective groups is emphasized.