A facile lipase catalyzed access to fatty acid monoesters of 2-O-beta-D-glucosylglycerol

2-O-β-D-glucopyranosylglycerol was submitted to acylation using Pseudomonas cepacia lipase as catalyst and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl esters of various long chain carboxylic acids as acyl carriers. Monoacylation was easily accomplished with preferred formation of the (2S)-1-O-acyl derivatives in reactions showing high regio- and diastereoselectivity.