A chemical having the formula (S) 2-amino-6-hydroxypimelate. (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxypimelate can be made using a method comprising culturing a cell comprising an exogenous nucleic acid sequence encoding an enzyme that catalyzes the substrate to product conversion of (S)-2-amino-6-oxopimelate to (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxypimelate and separating the (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxypimelate. The cell may be a recombinant microorganism for producing aminocaproic acid or hexamethylenediamine from (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxypimelate comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid sequence that expresses at least one polypeptide with substrate preference for homolysine, and amino acid decarboxylase with substrate preference for alpha-aminopimelate.