3-Methoxycatechol (Synonyms: 1,2-Dihydroxy-3-methoxybenzene, 3-Methoxypyrocatechol, NSC 66525, Pyrogallol 1-monomethyl ether)

3-Methoxycatechol is a lignan-derived phenol.¹ It is an agonist of G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) with an EC₅₀ value of 147 µM in a dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assay using HT-29 cells.² Dietary administration of 3-methoxycatechol (2%) alone, or in a model of multiorgan carcinogenesis induced by nitrosamines, promotes esophageal carcinogenesis in rats.³ 3-Methoxycatechol has been used as a precursor in the enzymatic synthesis of the phenols pyrogallol and purpurogallin and in the electro-organic synthesis of coumestan derivatives.¹,⁴

1.Zhang, S., Xiaofeng, W., and Xiao, Y.Conversion of lignin-derived 3-methoxycatechol to the natural product purpurogallin using bacterial P450 GcoAB and laccase CueOAppl. Microbiol. Biotechnol.106(2)593-603(2022) 2.Deng, H., and Fang, Y.The three tatecholics benserazide, catechol and pyrogallol are GPR35 agonistsPharmaceuticals (Basel)6(4)500-509(2013) 3.Hirose, M., Tnaka, H., Takahashi, S., et al.Effects of sodium nitrite and catechol, 3-methoxycatechol, or butylated hydroxyanisole in combination in a rat multiorgan carcinogenesis modelCancer Res.53(1)32-37(1993) 4.Golabi, S.M., and Nematollahi, D.Electrochemical study of catechol and some 3-substituted catechols in the prescence of 4-hydroxy coumarin: Application to the electro-organic synthesis of new coumestan derivativesJ. Electroanal. Chem.420(1-2)127-134(1997)