In studies with a soil arthrobacter sp., extracts catalyzed the 
removal of the side-chain to form 2,4-dichlorophenol (I). Enzyme 
systems present were able to metabolize the phenol and the accumulation 
of 3,5-dichlorocatechol (II) was demonstrated. The degradation product 
of the catechol was identified by mass spectra and infra-red as a-chloro-y~ 
carboxymethylene-A®-butenolide (III) (1679, 1691, 1692). 

H 
0-CH,, COOH 
2 =Ch 
~<CL Arthrobacter 
ee 
1 i 
Cl 
2,4-Dichlorophenol 
2,4,D (1) 
OH COOH 
HO Cl a . 
—_——_—_>- | 
awn oe 
1 
3,5-dichloro- 
catechol 
(II) 
COOH COOH 
COOH ai =() 
cl Uw.) Le ee. |r 
+ 1 ZA Cl 
0 a 
acetate 
+ (III) 
dicarboxylic 
acid ‘ 
114 

