Whole cell catalyst expressing a recombinant alpha -dioxygenase or a combination of a recombinant fatty acid reductase and a recombinant phosphopantetheinyl transferase phosphopantetheinylating the fatty acid reductase, and recombinant transaminase, is claimed. Independent claims are also included for: (1) reacting a carboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid or their monoester to an amine or diamine, comprising (a) providing the carboxylic acid, dicarboxylic acid or their monoester, and contacting a carboxylic acid with an alkane hydroxylase and/or alcohol dehydrogenase, (b) contacting the carboxylic acid, dicarboxylic acid or their monoester with a phosphopantetheinylated fatty acid reductase or an alpha -dioxygenase to obtain an aldehyde product, and (c) contacting the aldehyde product with transaminase; and (2) a reaction mixture comprising the above whole cell catalyst in an aqueous solution, and the carboxylic acid, dicarboxylic acid or their monoester.