This document describes biochemical pathways for producing 5-hydroxypentanoate methyl ester and pentanoic acid pentyl ester using one or more of a fatty acid O-methyltransferase, an alcohol O-acetyltransferase, and a monooxygenase, as well as recombinant hosts expressing one or more of such exogenous enzymes. 5-hydroxypentanoate methyl esters and pentanoic acid pentyl esters can be enzymatically converted to glutaric acid, 5-aminopentanoate, 5-hydroxypentanoate, cadaverine, or 1,5-pentanediol.