POSSIBLE INITIAL STEPS IN THE CATABOLISM OF 1,2-DIPHENYLETHANONE (DEOXYBENZOIN) BY PSEUDOMONAS-FLUORESCENS DB-5

A natural bacterial strain, identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens DB-5 , was isolated in enrichment cultures containing 1,2-diphenylethanone as the only source of carbon and energy. On the basis of characteristi c features observed in the mass spectra of degradation intermediates, it is proposed that metabolism of 1,2-diphenylethanone is initiated by two hydroxylations on the benzyl ring. Phenol, presumably arising fro m the benzoyl ring, was transiently detected as a catabolic intermedia te.