catechol

American  

[kat-i-kawl, -kol] / ˈkæt ɪˌkɔl, -ˌkɒl /

noun

1. a colorless, crystalline, dihydroxyl derivative of benzene, C 6 H 6 O 2 , the ortho isomer, used chiefly in photography, for dyeing, and as a reagent; pyrocatechol.

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catechol British  

/ ˈkætɪˌtʃɒl, -ˌkɒl /

noun

1. Also called: pyrocatechol.  a colourless crystalline phenol found in resins and lignins; 1,2-dihydroxybenzene. It is used as a photographic developer. Formula: C 6 H 4 (OH) 2

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catechol Scientific  

/ kăt′ĭ-kôl′,-kōl′ /

1. A biologically important organic phenol occurring naturally in lignins and resins. It has two hydroxyl groups attached to a benzene ring. Catechol is very caustic and is used in dyeing and as a photographic developer and an antiseptic. Chemical formula: C ₆ H ₆ O ₂ .

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Etymology

Origin of catechol

First recorded in 1875–80; catech(u) + -ol ¹

Example Sentences

Several drugs, including entacapone, contain metal-binding catechol groups, suggesting that this mechanism could be a more common pathway for drug-induced microbiome alterations.

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2024

Such antimicrobial activity was attributed to a direct contact killing process, where the pathogen is initially attached to the coating by catechol molecules and other polyphenol derivatives.

From Science Daily • Feb. 1, 2024

It increased most often in the presence of catechol, a large molecule in a building block of wood that was emitted by smoldering fires.

From Scientific American • Sep. 12, 2022

But Coggon had his suspicions about where the catechol was going.

From Scientific American • Sep. 12, 2022

Amongst polyhydric alcohols, the behaviour of the methyl ester of catechol, guaiacol was investigated.

From Synthetic Tannins by Grasser, Georg