Enzymatic continuous-flow preparation of nature-inspired phenolic esters as antiradical and antimicrobial agents

• Francesca Annunziata^a
• Martina L.Contente^b
• Valentina Anzi^a
• Silvia Donzella^b
• Paola Conti^a
• Francesco Molinari^b
• Piera Anna Martino^c
• Gabriele Meroni^c
• Valerio Massimo Sora^c
• Lucia Tamborini^a
• Andrea Pinto^b

• ^aDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences (DISFARM), University of Milan, via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
• ^bDepartment of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), University of Milan, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
• ^cDepartment of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences (DSBCO), One Health Unit, University of Milan, via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy

A collection of nature-inspired lipophilic phenolic esters have been prepared by an enzymatic synthesis under flow conditions, using the immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozyme 435®) as a catalyst in cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), a non-conventional and green solvent. Their antimicrobial activity against four selected bacterial strains together with their efficiency as radical scavengers were evaluated. The obtained compounds were characterized by enhanced lipophilicity in comparison with the parent non-esterified compounds, which increased the possibility of their use as additives in the food industry.

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