Cis-1,2-Dihydrocatechol

cis-1,2-Dihydrocatechol is the organic compound with the formula. Several isomers exist with this formula. It is a colorless solid melting near room temperature. The compound is classified as a 1,3-cyclohexadiene. It arises by the dihydroxylation of benzene catalyzed by toluene dioxygenase. It can also be prepared from catechol using the enzyme cis-1,2-dihydrobenzene-1,2-diol dehydrogenase:
cis-1,2-Dihydrocatechol has been used in the synthesis, sometimes on a commercial scale, of indinavir, indigo, and poly(p-phenylene).