What is "catechol"

Pyrocatechin \Pyr`o*cat"e*chin\, n. [Pyro- + catechu.] (Chem.) A white crystalline substance, C6H4(OH)2, of the phenol series, found in various plants; -- so called because first obtained by distillation of gum catechu. Called also catechol, oxyphenol. etc.

catechol \cat"e*chol\ (k[a^]t"[e^]*k[add]l`), n. [.] any of a group of chemicals having a benzene ring substituted with two hydroxyl groups in ortho position, especially ortho-dihydroxybenzene itself ( C6H6O2), also called pyrocatechol, used in photography and as a reagent.

n. (context organic compound English) The biologically important diphenol ortho-dihydroxy benzene; isomeric with hydroquinone and resorcinol.

Catechol , also known as pyrocatechol or 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, is an organic compound with the molecular formula CH(OH). It is the ortho isomer of the three isomeric benzenediols. This colorless compound occurs naturally in trace amounts. It was first discovered by destructive distillation of the plant extract catechin. About 20 million kg are now synthetically produced annually as a commodity organic chemical, mainly as a precursor to pesticides, flavors, and fragrances.

Catechol occurs as feathery white crystals that are very rapidly soluble in water.

(The name "catechol" has also been used as a chemical class name, where it refers generally to the catechins.)