Selective Synthesis of Unsaturated N-Acylethanolamines by Lipase-Catalyzed N-Acylation of Ethanolamine with Unsaturated Fatty Acids

The selective synthesis of unsaturated N-acylethanolamines 1b-6b by lipase-catalyzed direct condensation between unsaturated fatty acids 1a-6a and ethanolamine is reported. Reactions were carried out in hexane at 40 degrees C, in the presence of Candida antarctica Lipase B as the catalyst, to give the corresponding amides 1b-6b with yields ranging from 80 to 88%.