Pyrocatechol, also known as catechol or 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H4(OH)2. It is a white crystalline solid that occurs naturally in various plants and can be synthesized for a wide range of industrial applications. Pyrocatechol is a dihydroxybenzene and is closely related to other compounds like resorcinol and hydroquinone.

One of the primary uses of pyrocatechol is as a chemical intermediate in the production of pharmaceuticals, dyes, and perfumes. It serves as a building block for various organic compounds due to its reactivity and ability to form complexes with metal ions. Pyrocatechol can also be found in photographic developers and as a stabilizing agent for certain polymers.

Pyrocatechol’s antioxidant properties make it valuable in the rubber industry, where it is used as an antiozonant to protect rubber materials from degradation caused by ozone exposure. Additionally, it has applications in analytical chemistry as a reagent for the determination of various chemical species.