The lipase from Candida cylindracea (CCL) deacetyles rapidly and selectively all three regioisomer methyl acetoxybenzoates. In the enzymatic hydrolyses of analogous aryl acetoxybenzoates, the difference of reactivity between the acetoxy and benzoyloxy functionalities is reduced and a methoxy group in meta position of the aryl group reverses the reactivity order making the compounds aspirin or aspirin-like prodrugs. The degree of ...
