Pseudomonas sp. S-47 degraded 4-chlorobenzoate (4CBA) to 4-chlorocatechol (4CC) that was subsequently ring-cleaved to form 5-chloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde. These intermediate compounds were identified by GC-mass spectrometry and UV-visible spectrophotometry. 5-chloro-2-hydroxymuconic acid converted from 5-chloro-2- hydroxymuconic semialdehyde (5C-2HMS) was dechlorinated to produce 2-hydroxypenta-2,4-dienoic acid (2HP-2,4DA) by the strain. These results indicate that Pseudomonas sp. S-47 degrades 4CBA to 2HP-2,4DA via a novel pathway including the meta-cleavage of 4CC and dechlorination of 5C-2HMS.