The potent and specific inhibitor of Golgi α-mannosidase II, swainsonine (SW) has been isolated in high yield from Swainsona procumbens and derivatised by regiospecific enzymatic reactions. In this study the regioselectivity of three commercially available enzymes, subtilisin Carlsberg, porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) and Candida cylindracea lipase was determined for the acylation of swainsonine in predominantly anhydrous ...