Abstract
Metabolism of 2, 4-dichloro-1-nitrobenzene (1) by Mucor javnicus AHU 6010 was investigated. In addition to the corresponding benzenamine derivative (2), two novel metabolites detected gas-chromatographically were extracted from the culture medium and isolated. The structures were unequivocally elucidated to be 4-chloro-2-methylthio-1-nitrobenzene (3) and 4-chloro-2-methyl-thiobenzenamine (4), respectively, by direct comparisons with authentic compounds. It was suggested that two biological reactions, namely, reduction of the nitro group and/or substitution of the ortho-chlorine atom by a methylthio group, were responsible for the formation of these metabolites.
