A High‐Yielding Biocatalytic Process for the Production of 2‐<i>O</i>‐(α‐<scp>D</scp>‐glucopyranosyl)‐<i>sn</i>‐glycerol, a Natural Osmolyte and Useful Moisturizing Ingredient

Abstract

Fit for industry: Stereochemically pure 2-O-(α-D-glucopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol (αGG) was obtained in high yield from an efficient and selective biocatalytic process (see schematic outline). The sucrose phosphorylase catalyzed transfer of a glucosyl group from sucrose to glycerol unites the main advantages of transglycosidases, glycosyltransferases, and glycosynthases for glycoside synthesis and provides access to αGG as an industrial chemical.