Unusual wax esters and glycolipids: Biocatalytical formation and physico‐chemical characterization

By aid of lipases, e.g. of Mucor michei, in n‐hexane wax esters were produced from usual primary fatty alcohols and unusual hydroxy fatty acids (in part of microbial origin). Thus, (S)‐17‐hydroxyoctadecanoic acid dodecyl ester and (R)‐3‐hydroxy decanoic acid dodecyl ester were formed. In measurements of the film pressure using a LANGMUIR film balance the monolayers of both compounds indicated good stability compared to the non‐hydroxy wax esters. Glycolipids de novo produced by microorganisms did not show suitable wetting properties, but they were able to lower ze surface tension of water to a higher extent than the unusual waxes.