Medium-scale preparation of useful metabolites of aromatic compounds via whole-cell fermentation with recombinant organisms

The whole-cell fermentation of aromatic coumpounds with Escherichia coli JM109 (pDTG601) on a medium scale (10-15 L) produces enantiopure cyclohexadienediols. A detailed procedure for the fermentation is described, and yields for several metabolites are provided. A similar procedure using E. coli JM109 (pDTG602) affords catechols. The dienediols are useful for asymmetric synthesis, and several important targets originating from these metabolites are tabulated.