Methods and materials for producing polyols are provided comprising recombinant microorganisms expressing a Pyp1 polyol phosphatase. Also provided herein are methods and materials for producing electron rich compounds in recombinant microorganisms lacking the DET1 and/or PHO13 genes.

Provided herein are non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having increased xylose metabolism and increased production of ethanol using xylose as a substrate, as well as methods to make and use these microbial organisms to produce ethanol.