The lipase-catalyzed alcoholysis of α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl acetate (CPBAc) in organic solvents for the synthesis of α-cyano-3- phenoxybenzyl alcohol (CPBA) was studied. The experimental results indicated that Novozym435 lipase showed the highest catalytic activity for the reaction. 1-Octanol was founed to be the best acyl acceptor. Toluene was the preferred solvent and the optimum molar ratio of 1- octanol to CPBAc was about 1.5 : 1. The reaction rate was slowed down with the addition of water to the solvent. The best concentration of substrate was 108.13 mmol/L under 8 mg/mL lipase for the reaction. When the reaction was carried out under the above optimum conditions, more than 96% of conversion was achieved.

Key words: LIPASE;ALCOHOLYSIS;phenoxybenzyl acetate;N-OCTYL ALCOHOL, CATALYTIC ACTIVITY