Abstract: A poly(sugar acrylate) is prepared by reacting vinyl acrylate with a sugar in the presence of hydrolytic enzymes to prepare an acryloyl ester of the sugar. The acryloyl ester of the sugar is then polymerized to form the poly(sugar acrylate). Useful hydrolytic enzymes include alkaline protease, aminoacylase, fungal amylase, bacterial protease, lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia and subtilisin. Useful sugars include .alpha.- or .beta.-alkyl- or .alpha.- or .beta.-halo-glycosides, sucrose, fructose, mannose, trehalose, raffinose, lactose and maltose. A free radical initiator can be used in the polymerization. A copolymer can be formed by mixing the sugar ester with a monomer such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate before polymerizing. During formation of the copolymer, a cross-linking agent such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate may be present. The poly(sugar acrylates) form hydrogels which are useful in absorbent materials such as diaper liners, packaging materials and drug delivery polymers.

Abstract: A method for reacting an enzyme in a non-aqueous organic solvent is disclosed. The method comprises preparing a lyophilizate of a salt which activates the enzyme and an enzyme wherein the lyophilizate contains a weight ratio of salt to enzyme of at least 60% salt sufficient to activate the enzyme in an organic solvent. The method then calls for dispersion of the lyophilizate in a non-aqueous organic solvent in the presence of a substrate for the enzyme.

Abstract: Sucrose or derivatives thereof such as esters are acylated at the 4'- and/or the 6- position by reaction with a donor acyl ester, e.g. a reactive ester of an alkanoic acid or benzoic acid, in the presence of lipase. Sucrose 6,4' so produced can be chlorinated and deacylated to produce the sweetener sucralose.

Abstract: A method of making a novel sugar-based polymer is disclosed. A sugar and an organic acid derivative having at least two carboxylate functionalities are mixed in a substantially non-aqueous organic solvent with a hydrolytic enzyme and, thereafter, the resulting mixture is agitated for a time sufficient to allow for the polymerization of the sugar. The resulting sugar-based polymer has sugar incorporated in the polymer backbone.

Abstract: Sucrose or derivatives thereof such as esters are acylated at the 4'- and/or the 6-position by reaction with a donor acyl ester, e.g. a reactive ester of an alkanoic acid or benzoic acid, in the presence of lipase. Sucrose 6,4'-diesters so produced can be chlorinated and deacylated to produce the sweetener sucralose.

Abstract: The novel chlorinated sugar O-.alpha.-D-6-chloro-6-deoxygalactopyranosyl-(1.fwdarw.6)-.alpha.-D-4-chlo ro-4-deoxygalactopyranosyl-(1.fwdarw.2)-.beta.-D-1, 6-dichloro-1, 6-dideoxyfructofuranoside (TCR) can be used to prepare sucralose by incubating the TCR in solution in the presence of an enzyme serving to remove the 6-chloro-6-deoxygalactosyl moiety from the 6-position, especially an enzyme derived from a strain of Mortierella vinacea, Circinella muscae or Aspergillus niger. TCR is prepared by treating raffinose with thionyl chloride in the presence of triphenylphosphine oxide.

Abstract: A temperature change indicator is described which is composed of an enzyme and a substrate for that enzyme suspended in a solid organic solvent or mixture of solvents as a support medium. The organic solvent or solvents are chosen so as to melt at a specific temperature or in a specific temperature range. When the temperature of the indicator is elevated above the chosen, or critical temperature, the solid organic solvent support will melt, and the enzymatic reaction will occur, producing a visually detectable product which is stable to further temperature variation.