The metabolic pathway of phenylmalonic acid by Alcaligenes bronchisepticus KU1201, which catalyzes the asymmetric decarboxylation of alpha-aryl-alpha-methylmalonic acids to alpha-arylpropionic acids, is demonstrated. Enantioselective oxidation of mandelic acid was investigated using the metabolizing pathway in this strain. Incubation of (+/-)-mandelic acid with A. bronchisepticus afforded optically pure (R)-one accompanied by benzoylformic acid and benzoic acid. This enzymatic oxidation is also applicable to various substituted mandelic acids.