The lipase-catalyzed synthesis of ascorbyloleate was studied using different preparations of lipases from Candida antarctica. Conversion to ascorbyloleate was influenced by the type of lipase, the carrier used for immobilization, water activity and organic solvent. The highest conversion (63%) was found using Chirazyme L-2 immobilized on carrier C2, in acetone, using methyloleate as acyl donor (4-fold excess), at water activity 0.11 and in the presence of molecular sieves. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.