Enzymic Preparation of Benzyl β-D-Glucopyranoside

Benzyl β-D-glucopyranoside was prepared by an enzyme-catalysed direct reaction between D-glucose, or better cellobiose, and benzyl alcohol in the presence of a minimum amount of water. The enzyme β-glucosidase was used in the immobilized form (adsorbed onto macroporous polyethylene terephthalate or covalently bound on polyglycidyl methacrylate), enabling multiple application.