533-73-3

Gray powder

1,2,4-Benzenetriol forms colorless platelets or prisms that quickly colorize in air. It is soluble in water and polar solvents, and slightly soluble in chloroform and carbon disulfide.

1,2,4-Trihydroxybenzene is an important raw material and intermediate used in organic Synthesis, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and dyestuff.It is used as a metabolite of benzene.

A metabolite of benzene.

ChEBI: Benzene-1,2,4-triol is a benzenetriol carrying hydroxy groups at positions 1, 2 and 4. It has a role as a mouse metabolite.

1,2,4-Benzenetriol is synthesized by hydrolysis of 1,2,4-triacetoxybenzene, which is prepared by the acid-catalyzed reaction of p-benzoquinone with acetic anhydride.
Other production methods for 1,2,4-Benzenetriol are oxidation of resorcinol with hydrogen peroxide and Dakin oxidation of 2,4- or 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehydes or 2,4- or 3,4-dihydroxyacetophenones with alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution.

1,2,4-Benzenetriol is, like other phenols, a strong reducing agent. Its basic aqueous solution absorbs gaseous oxygen to produce black precipitates of the humic acid type. 1,2,4-Benzenetriol shows typical reactions of phenols. Derivatives of the tautomeric keto form are also known: halogenation of hydroxyhydroquinone, for example, gives 1,2,5,5-tetrahalocyclohexene-3,4,6-trione. Condensation with ethylacetoacetate produces dihydroxycoumarin; reaction with phthalic anhydride yields hydroxyhydroquinonephthalein. Monosubstitution of a hydroxy group by an amino group occurs easily at room temperature and gives 2,4-dihydroxyaniline.

Crystallise the triol from Et2O or Et2O/EtOH, and dry it in a vacuum. The picrate forms orange-red needles m 96o. [Beilstein 6 H 1087, 6 I 541, 6 II 1071, 6 III 6276.]