Candida Antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) covalently immobilized on polyacrylate beads (300-500 µm; ≥95%, Fermase CALB™ 10000), with a nominal activity of 10 000 PLU/g (propyl laurate units per gram dry weight) was acquired from Fermenta Biotech Ltd, Mumbai and Enzyme Catalyzed Polymers LLC (Akron, OH, USA). Before use, CAL-B was pre-dried under vacuum for 24h at 40 °C, and diphenyl ether was stored over 4Å molecular sieves. The rest of the chemicals were used as received.