Subtilisin-catalyzed esterification of di- and oligosaccharides containing a D-fructose moiety.

Several di- and oligosaccharides containing a D-fructose moiety have been acylated by protease subtilisin in anhydrous dimethylformamide in the presence of the activated ester trifluoroethyl butanoate. Under the reaction conditions used, all the substrates were converted into the corresponding monobutanoates in ca. 50% isolated yields.