Benzoate dioxygenase from<i>Ralstonia eutropha</i>B9 – unusual regiochemistry of dihydroxylation permits rapid access to novel chirons

Oxidation of benzoic acid by a microorganism expressing benzoate dioxygenase leads to the formation of an unusual<italic>ipso</italic>,<italic>ortho</italic>arene<italic>cis</italic>-diol in sufficient quantities to be useful for synthesis.