Catechol

Catechol is an organic compound with the molecular formula C6H6O2.

Formula
C6H6O2
Functional group
Phenols
Molar mass
110.11 g/mol
Also known as
benzene-1,2-diol, pyrocatechol, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, 1,2-benzenediol, pyrocatechin, 2-hydroxyphenol

Overview

Catechol is an organic compound with the molecular formula C6H6O2.

Identifiers

Formula
C6H6O2
Functional group
Phenols
Molar mass
110.11 g/mol
Also known as
benzene-1,2-diol, pyrocatechol, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, 1,2-benzenediol, pyrocatechin, 2-hydroxyphenol
Chemical identifiers
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C(=C1)O)O
InChI
InChI=1S/C6H6O2/c7-5-3-1-2-4-6(5)8/h1-4,7-8H
PubChem CID
289

Properties

Melting Point
105 °C
Boiling Point (sublimation noted)
245.5 °C at 760 mm Hg; sublimes
Relative density (water = 1)
Relative density (water = 1): 1.3
Water solubility
In water, 4.61X10+5 mg/L at 25 °C

Related compounds

  • Phenols

    Catechol is an organic compound with the molecular formula C6H6O2.

References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary: Catechol (CID 289)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  2. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Catechol — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/289#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 1482

  3. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Catechol — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/289#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 1482

  4. ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs): Catechol — densityILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/289#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred.

  5. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Catechol — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/289#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Yalkowsky, S.H., He, Yan, Jain, P. Handbook of Aqueous Solubility Data Second Edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL 2010, p. 255