Lipase-catalyzed transesterification of ethyl formate to octyl formate

•Octyl formate was synthesized through enzymatic transesterification of ethyl formate with 1-octanol.•Ethyl formate can be recycled to minimize the waste formation.•The biocatalyst (Novo435) can be recycled at least 27 times.•The crude product can be used to promote formate dehydrogenase-catalyzed NADH regeneration.

The preparation of octyl formate via lipase-catalyzed transesterification of ethyl formate with 1-octanol is demonstrated. To shift the equilibrium of the reaction, ethyl formate was added in surplus but could be partially recovered for subsequent reactions. The same was true for the biocatalyst (Novo435), which could be reused at least 27 times.This method gives simple access to a hydrophobic formic acid ester, which can be used as a reactive organic phase in biocatalytic redox reactions. The enzymatically prepared octyl formate can be utilized by formate dehydrogenase to regenerate NADH from NAD+.

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