Oxoenoic acids as metabolites in the bacterial degradation of catechols.

1. Partially purified extracts of a Pseudomonas converted the meta ring-fission product of 4-methylcatechol into a compound having spectroscopic and chemical properties consistent with its being 2-oxohex-4-enoic acid. 2. Catechol and 3-methylcatechol were both metabolized to a compound that appeared to be 2-oxopent-4-enoic acid. 3. Solutions of norvaline and norleucine were prepared from these metabolites. 4. A reaction scheme is presented for the conversion of catechols into hydroxyoxo acids after meta ring-fission.