This document describes biochemical pathways for producing 2,3-dehydroadipyl-CoA methyl ester from precursors such as 2-oxoglutarate using one or more of a fatty acid O-methyltransferase, a thioesterase, a CoA-transferase and a CoA ligase, as well as recombinant hosts expressing one or more of such enzymes. 2,3-dehydroadipyl-CoA methyl ester can be enzymatically converted to adipyl-CoA using a trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase, and a methylesterase, which in turn can be enzymatically converted to adipic acid, 6-aminohexanoate, 6-hydroxyhexanoate, caprolactam, hexamethylenediamine, or 1,6-hexanediol.