Reduction of nitro-substituted compounds by native and immobilized Escherichia coli cells

Reduction of nitro-substituted compounds, 1,4-benzodiazepine-2-ones, dibenzo[b,f]1,4-diazepines, quinolones, and quinoxalinones, by Escherichia coli cells was studied. Physicochemical methods demonstrated the formation of corresponding amines. 4-(p-Nitrophenyl)-1H-6-R-quinolones-2 were nor reduced by Escherichia coli cells. Regiospecific reduction of 2,4-dinitro-5H-11-(p-R-phenyl)-dibenzo[b,f]-1,4-diazepines and 4-(2'-R-3',5'-dinitro)-benzoyl-3,4-dihydroquinoxalinones-2 was shown to result in the formation of 2-nitro-4-amino-5H-11-(p-R-phenyl)-dibenzo[b,f]-1,4-diazepines and 4-(2'-R-3'-nitro-5'-amino)-benzoyl-3,4-dihydroquinoxalinones-2, respectively. Methods for microbiological reduction of nitro compounds and immobilization of Escherichia coli cells into carrageenan and its modified forms were elaborated.