Direct biocatalytic synthesis of functionalized catechols: a green alternative to traditional methods with high effective mass yield

Several catechols have been prepared directly from aromatic precursors by t reatment with the recombinant organism Escherichia coli JM109 (pDTG602), wh ich expresses both toluene dioxygenase (TDO) and dihydrocatechol dehydrogen ase (DHCD), the first two enzymes in the natural biodegradation pathway of aromatics by Pseudomonas species. The yields and the ease of preparation of these compounds are compared with traditional chemical methods. For three of the products, the E value and EMY (effective mass yield, is defined as t he percentage of the mass of desired product relative to the mass of all no n-benign materials in its synthesis, see ref. 9) are calculated and compare d with those obtained by traditional methods to indicate the green componen t of the preparation. Potential for direct introduction of the catechol uni t to various natural product synthons is discussed.