Benzenetriol

Trihydroxybenzenes the form a group of materials consisting of a benzene ring having three hydroxyl groups (-OH) as a substituent. Due to their different arrangement of three structural isomers arise with the molecular formula C6H6O3. They are mainly known under their common names pyrogallol ( 1,2,3- trihydroxy benzene ), hydroxyhydroquinone (1,2,4- trihydroxy ) and phloroglucinol (1,3,5- trihydroxy ).

Properties

Pyrogallol and hydroxyhydroquinone can be oxidized in an alkaline medium analogous to the diphenols with formal proton and electron donation to quinones. In phloroglucinol the formation of a quinoid system, however, is not possible ( cf. resorcinol ).