Highly chemo-and regio-selective benzylic hydroxylations of o-and m-substituted toluenes were achieved with the easily available and easy-to-handle resting cells of Cellulosimicrobium cellulans EB-8-4 as biocatalysts, giving the corresponding benzyl alcohols as single product. Benzyl alcohols were obtained in 78–94% yield, demonstrating the first green, clean, and simple method for the preparation of benzyl alcohols via ...