Abstract A series of cis-dihydrodiol metabolites, available from the bacterial dioxygenase- catalysed oxidation of monosubstituted benzene substrates using Pseudomonas putida UV4, have been converted to the corresponding catechols using both a heterogeneous catalyst (Pd/C) and a naphthalene cis-diol dehydrogenase enzyme present in whole cells of the recombinant strain Escherichia coli DH5α (pUC129: nar B). A comparative study of the ...