citol) in hexane using lipase from Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme®) is described. N-methyl-glucamine was solubilized by oleic acid addition which resulted in the formation of an ion-pair between acid and amine function. This ion-pair, identified by Infra-Red spectroscopy, is essential for amide or ester synthesis. Its stability in hexane was also found to be the limiting factor of reaction yield which