Beta-D(+)-glucose pentaacetate was hydrolyzed both chemically and enzymatically. In contrast to the alkaline hydrolysis, esterase-catalyzed deacetylations afforded significant accumulation of intermediate glucose esters at different degrees of substrate conversion. Aspergillus niger lipase, the most suitable of the four enzymes tested, was used for preparative hydrolysis of glucose pentaacetate. As a result, gram quantities of pure glucose-2,3,4,6-tetraacetate, glucose triacetate (a mixture of two positional isomers, 2,4,6- and 3,4,6-), and glucose-4,6-diacetate were prepared.