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Product Information

Product Name
Protocatechuic acid
Brand Name
ChemScene
Product Number
CS-6092
CAS
99-50-3
Certificate of Analysis (COA)​
COA not found

General Information

PubChem CID
72
IUPAC Name
3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid
InChI Key
YQUVCSBJEUQKSH-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
C1=CC(=C(C=C1C(=O)O)O)O

Application

Product Introduction

3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid (Protocatechuic Acid, CAS No. 99-50-3) is a naturally occurring phenolic acid widely distributed in fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, and edible herbs. It is an important plant secondary metabolite and serves as a valuable research compound in natural product chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, food science, and pharmaceutical research.

Due to its catechol structure, protocatechuic acid exhibits strong chemical reactivity and antioxidant properties, making it a frequently used reference compound for studies involving phenolic compounds, oxidative stress, enzyme activity, and plant metabolite analysis. It is also employed as an analytical standard for chromatographic method development and quality control.

Chemical Properties and Reaction Mechanism

Chemical Information

  • Chemical Name: 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid
  • Common Name: Protocatechuic Acid
  • CAS Number: 99-50-3
  • Molecular Formula: C₇H₆O₄
  • Molecular Weight: 154.12
  • Appearance: White to light beige crystalline powder
  • Chemical Class: Phenolic acid

Chemical Characteristics

The molecule contains:

  • One carboxylic acid group
  • Two adjacent phenolic hydroxyl groups (catechol structure)

These functional groups enable the compound to participate in:

  • Oxidation–reduction reactions
  • Metal ion chelation
  • Hydrogen-bond formation
  • Esterification and amidation reactions
    • Derivatization for chromatographic analysis

3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid is widely utilized in research focused on:

Pharmaceutical Development: This compound serves as a key intermediate in the synthesis of various pharmaceuticals, particularly in the development of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drugs.

Cosmetic Formulations: It is used in skincare products for its antioxidant properties, helping to protect the skin from oxidative stress and improve overall skin health.

Food Preservation: The compound acts as a natural preservative due to its antimicrobial properties, making it valuable in the food industry for extending shelf life.

Analytical Chemistry: It is employed as a standard in various analytical techniques, aiding researchers in the quantification of phenolic compounds in environmental samples.

Biotechnology: 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid is used in biocatalysis processes, enhancing the efficiency of enzymatic reactions in the production of bio-based chemicals.

Recommended Experimental Conditions

Parameter Recommended Conditions
Analytical Method HPLC, UPLC, LC-MS/MS
Detection UV or Mass Spectrometry
Solvent Methanol, ethanol, or aqueous buffer
Storage Store in a cool, dry place protected from light
Sample Preparation Prepare fresh solutions for best analytical performance

Advantages

  • Naturally occurring phenolic compound
  • Suitable as an analytical reference standard
  • High purity for research applications
  • Compatible with multiple chromatographic techniques
  • Widely used in natural product and food analysis
  • Excellent reference material for polyphenol research

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid used for?
It is widely used in natural product research, analytical chemistry, food science, and pharmaceutical research as a reference compound and analytical standard.

 

Is Protocatechuic Acid a naturally occurring compound?
Yes. It occurs naturally in numerous plants, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other botanical sources.

 

Which analytical techniques are commonly used with this compound?
It is commonly analyzed by HPLC, UPLC, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS (after derivatization), and UV spectroscopy.

 

Can this compound be used as an analytical reference standard?
Yes. It is frequently used for method development, quality control, and compound identification in laboratory research.

 

Why is the catechol structure important?
The adjacent hydroxyl groups contribute to its redox properties, metal-binding ability, and chemical reactivity, making it valuable for biochemical and analytical studies.

 

Is this compound suitable for food and botanical analysis?
Yes. It is widely employed in the characterization and quantitative analysis of plant extracts, food products, and natural polyphenols.

 

How should Protocatechuic Acid be stored?
It should be stored in a cool, dry, and light-protected environment with the container tightly sealed.

 

Is this product intended for research use only?
Yes. It is intended for laboratory research and analytical applications only.

References

Hempseed Flour-Based Bioingredient Fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ITM21B for Salt-Reduced Bread Production in Industrial Bakery Environment

Publication Name: Food and Bioprocess Technology
Publication Date: 2026-03-04
DOI: 10.1007/s11947-026-04298-x

Needle and bark specialised metabolites of Norway spruce depend on forest site type and stand composition

Publication Name: Plant Ecology
Publication Date: 2026-03-03
DOI: 10.1007/s11258-026-01619-0

Flavan-3-ol- and phenolic acid–rich Beldi sweet and bitter almond oils as natural enzyme inhibitors: Chemical profiling and in silico mechanistic insights

Publication Name: Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization
Publication Date: 2026-03-02
DOI: 10.1007/s11694-025-04005-y

Identification of Luteolin and Some Other Phenolics of Propolis as HIV-1-reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Publication Name: Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology
Publication Date: 2026-03-02
DOI: 10.1134/s0003683824607819