This environmentally desirable biocatalytic synthesis (Scheme 6) of adipic acid begins with glucose, a nontoxic renewable resource (glucose can be obtained from bio- mass), compared with the conventional synthesis (Scheme 2), which begins with benzene, a known carcinogen. that is derived from crude oil, a nonrenewable resource.
Draths and Frost have developed other genetically altered E. coli that stop the synthesis (Scheme 6) at either DHS (a potential replacement for the antioxidant BH or catechol.3 This allows for the isolation of these compounds as products. The biocatalytic synthesis of DHS and catechol thus allows for synthetic pathways to these compounds from glucose (a nontoxic and renewable resource) as opposed to the conventional syntheses (Schemes and 5), which use carcinogenic (benzene) or toxic (toluene) starting materials derived from crude oil, a nonrenewable resource