A chemical compound found in plants and used in making dyes, medicines, and other products; it's a type of organic molecule with two hydroxyl groups attached to a benzene ring.
From 'catechu' (an astringent extract from acacia trees) plus '-ol' (the chemical suffix for alcohols), named because it was first derived from catechu extracts.
Catechol is the molecular building block for some of your body's most important neurotransmitters—dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine all have catechol structures, which is why understanding this little molecule helps explain how your brain controls mood and energy.
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