Catechol

Catechol, or benzene-1,2-diol, is an aromatic organic compound with hydroxyl groups on adjacent carbon atoms of a benzene ring. It is the simplest member of the catechol family of compounds.

Catechol–quinone redox couple: A reversible oxidation–reduction pair in which catechol is oxidized to a quinone and can be reduced back. Catechol readily loses two hydrogen atoms and two electrons to form 1,2-benzoquinone.
Benzene: A six-carbon aromatic hydrocarbon with a planar ring and delocalized pi electrons. Catechol’s carbon framework is a benzene ring.
L-DOPA: A naturally occurring amino acid and dopamine precursor with a catechol group. Its catechol unit is central to L-DOPA’s oxidation and biological reactivity.
Hydroquinone: Benzene-1,4-diol, with hydroxyl groups in the para arrangement. Hydroquinone places the hydroxyl groups opposite rather than adjacent.
1,2-Benzoquinone: An oxidized aromatic compound with two carbonyl groups on adjacent ring carbons. It is the direct oxidation product of catechol.
Phenol: An aromatic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bonded directly to a benzene ring. Each of catechol’s hydroxyl groups is a phenolic group.
Dopamine: A neurotransmitter and hormone containing a catechol group attached to an ethylamine side chain. Dopamine is a familiar biological molecule built around catechol functionality.
Guaiacol: 2-Methoxyphenol, an aromatic compound with one hydroxyl and one methoxy group. Replacing one catechol hydroxyl with methoxy gives guaiacol.
Chelation: The formation of coordinate bonds between a metal ion and multiple binding sites on one ligand. Catechol’s neighboring oxygen atoms can bind the same metal ion.
Aromaticity: The unusual stability associated with cyclic, conjugated systems of delocalized electrons. Aromaticity accounts for the characteristic bonding of catechol’s benzene ring.

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