USE OF XYLENE MONOOXYGENASE FOR THE OXIDATION OF SUBSTITUTED POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC COMPOUNDS

摘要

The invention relates to a biocatalytic process for the oxidation of substituted polycyclic aromatic compounds to the corresponding carboxylic acids and related compounds. In a preferred embodiment the invention describes a method to produce 6-methyl-2-hydroxymethylnaphthalene, 6-methyl-2-naphthoic acid, 2,6-bis(hydroxymethyl)naphthalene and 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid from 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. These compounds have been prepared by oxidizing 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene with a single recombinant microorganism containing the enzyme xylene monooxygenase.