Diacyyliglyseroleiksi

Diacyyliglyseroleiksi is a Finnish term referring to the process of converting glycerol into diacylglycerol (DAG) by esterifying glycerol with fatty acyl groups. In practice, the term covers both chemical and enzymatic routes that attach two fatty acid chains to the glycerol backbone, leaving one hydroxyl group free. The resulting diacylglycerols exist mainly in two regioisomeric forms: 1,2-diacylglycerol and 1,3-diacylglycerol, with the position of the remaining hydroxyl group affecting properties and reactivity.

Chemical synthesis of diacylglycerols typically involves partial esterification of glycerol with fatty acyl donors such as fatty acid chlorides or anhydrides, often under controlled temperatures and with catalysts to minimize formation of triacylglycerols. Conditions and catalysts are chosen to influence the yield and regioselectivity toward the desired DAG isomer.

Enzymatic synthesis uses lipases or other acyl-transfer enzymes to catalyze the transfer of fatty acyl groups from esters or fats to glycerol. This approach can offer milder reaction conditions and higher regioselectivity, enabling selective formation of 1,2- or 1,3-DAG depending on the system and substrates used. Immobilized enzymes are commonly employed in industrial processes.

Applications of diacylglycerols include roles as metabolic intermediates in lipid pathways and use as ingredients in food and cosmetic formulations. DAG-rich oils are studied and marketed as alternatives to conventional fats, with attention to their physicochemical properties and health-related effects.

See also: monoacylglycerol, triacylglycerol, glycerolysis, lipase-catalyzed esterification.