Design of recombinant whole-cell catalysts for double reduction of CC and CO bonds in enals and application in the synthesis of Guerbet alcohols as industrial bulk chemicals for lubricants

Whole-cell catalysts overexpressing two enzymes for a double reduction cascade in which aliphatic α-branched α,β-unsaturated aldehydes are converted into Guerbet alcohols as a highly demanded class of lubricants were constructed and applied in such biotransformations.

Biomass derived xylose Guerbet surfactants: thermotropic and lyotropic properties from small-angle X-ray scattering

A series of novel branched-chain glycosides were synthesised from xylose, an aldopentose and Guerbet alcohols whose total number of carbon atoms ranges from C8–C24. Interestingly dry β-Xyl-C8C4 gave a rectangular columnar ribbon phase at 25 °C.