Abstract: A process for the production of ortho-aminophenolic analogs of chloramphenicol using a biocatalyst consisting of pure enzymes, partially purified enzymes, cell lysate, intact cells, or a metal reaction linked with a subsequent enzymatic reaction. The biocatalyst is an enzyme system that makes use of a nitroreductase enzyme that initially reduces the nitroarene to the hydroxylaminoarene and a mutase enzyme that converts the hydroxylaminoarene to an ortho-aminophenol. The biocatalyst can also consist of a coupled, two-step metal and enzyme reaction in which the metal, such as zinc, catalyzes the transformation of the nitroarene to the hydroxylaminoarene and the mutase then catalyzes the transformation of hydroxylaminoarene to the corresponding ortho-aminophenol.

Abstract: A novel o-aminophenol-carboxylic AB-monomer with the following chemical structure: for synthesizing new rigid-rod polybenzobisazoles was prepared from the corresponding nitrobenzothiazolecarboxylic acid via an enzymatic process.

Abstract: A process for biological production of ortho-aminophenols from nitroaromatic compounds using recombinant E. Coli strains. The process uses an enzyme system that makes use of a nitroreductase enzyme that initially reduces the nitroarene to the hydroxylaminoarene and a mutase enzyme that converts the hydroxylaminoarene to an ortho-aminophenol.

Abstract: A process for the production of ortho-aminophenols from nitroarenes using a biocatalyst consisting of pure enzymes, partially purified enzymes, cell lysate, intact cells, or a metal reaction linked with a subsequent enzymatic reaction. The biocatalyst is an enzyme system that makes use of a nitroreductase enzyme that initially reduces the nitroarene to the hydroxylaminoarene and a mutase enzyme that converts the hydroxylaminoarene to an ortho-aminophenol. The biocatalyst can also consist of a coupled, two-step metal and enzyme reaction in which the metal, such as zinc, catalyzes the transformation of the nitroarene to the hydroxylaminoarene and the mutase then catalyzes the transformation of hydroxylaminoarene to the corresponding ortho-aminophenol.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of 2-aminomuconate which comprises adding 2-aminophenol to a mixture of 2-aminophenol 1,6-dioxygenase, 2-aminomuconic semialdehyde dehydrogenase and NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidized form) in a buffer, and recovering a fraction containing 2-aminomuconate from the mixture.

Abstract: Dinitrotoluene present as a contaminant in a sample, is degraded by the steps of (a) providing a sample comprising dinitrotoluene; (b) adding to the sample at least one bacterial strain capable of degrading at least one dinitrotoluene isomer under aerobic conditions; (c) producing aerobic conditions in the sample; and (d) maintaining the aerobic conditions in the sample for a time that is sufficient for the bacteria to degrade said dinitrotoluene. In one embodiment, at least one bacterial strain capable of degrading the 2,4-dinitrotoluene isomer under aerobic conditions is added to the sample. In another embodiment, at least one bacterial strain capable of degrading the 2,6-dinitrotoluene isomer under aerobic conditions is added to the sample. In yet another embodiment, at least one bacterial strain capable of degrading both the 2,4-dinitrotoluene isomer and the 2,6-dinitrotoluene isomer under aerobic conditions is added to the sample.