phenol-containing compound catabolic process (R)-4-hydroxymandelate catabolic process (R)-4-hydroxymandelate catabolism (R)-4-hydroxymandelate breakdown biological_process (R)-4-hydroxymandelate degradation GO:0019599 The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the breakdown of (R)-4-hydroxymandelate, the anion of (R)-4-hydroxymandelic acid. MetaCyc:4-HYDROXYMANDELATE-DEGRADATION-PWY monocarboxylic acid catabolic process