The substrate selectivity of numerous commercially available lipases from microorganisms, plants and animal tissue towards 9-octadecenoic acids with respect to the cis/trans configuration of the C=C double bond was examined by the esterification of cis- and tr trans-9-octadecanoic acid (oleic and elaidic acid respectively) with n-butanol in n-hexane. A great number of lipases studied, e.g. those from Pseudomonas sp., porcine pancreas or Carica papaya, were unable to discriminate between the isomeric 9-octadecenoic acids. However, lipases from Candida cylindracea and Mucor miehei catalysed the esterification of oleic acid 3-4 times faster than the corresponding reaction of elaidic acid and therefore have a high preference for the cis isomer. Of all biocatalysts examined, only recombinant lipases from Candida antarctica favoured elaidic acid as substrate. While the preference of Candida antarctica lipase B for the trans isomer was quite low, Candida antarctica lipase A had an extraordinary substrate selectivity and its immobilized enzyme preparation [Chirazyme L-5 (3) from Boehringer] esterified elaidic acid about 15 times faster than oleic acid.