Bacterial oxidation of benzocyloalkenes to yield monol, diol and triol metabolites

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)79405-6

Benzylic monooxygenation of benzocycloalkenes, 2-4, by enzymes in intact cultures of Pseudomonas putida UV4 yielded exclusively the [R] enantiomers, 6-8, and the derived ketones 10-12; by contrast, biotransformation of benzocyclobutene, 1, yielded both monooxygenation (5 and 9), dioxygenation (13,14 and 15), and trioxygenation (16) products.