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. 1992 Jul;174(14):4860–4862. doi: 10.1128/jb.174.14.4860-4862.1992

Anaerobic toluene oxidation to benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde in a denitrifying Pseudomonas strain.

U Altenschmidt 1, G Fuchs 1
PMCID: PMC206290  PMID: 1624475

Abstract

The denitrifying Pseudomonas strain K172 was grown with a generation time of 6 h to a cell density of 0.4 g (dry weight) per liter with toluene and nitrate as substrates. We found that anaerobic cell suspensions oxidize [14C]toluene first to [14C]benzyl alcohol and subsequently to [14C]benzaldehyde. This proves that the methyl group of toluene is oxidized without molecular oxygen to a hydroxymethyl group.

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Selected References

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