2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid

2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid is a natural phenol found in Phyllanthus acidus^[2] and in the aquatic fern Salvinia molesta.^[3] It is also abundant in the fruits of Flacourtia inermis. It is a dihydroxybenzoic acid, a type of organic compound.

2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid

Names
Preferred IUPAC name 2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid
Other names Hypogallic acid; 2-Pyrocatechuic acid; o-Pyrocatechuic acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	303-38-8 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image Interactive image
Abbreviations	2,3-DHBA; 2,3-DHB
ChEBI	CHEBI:18026 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1432 Y
ChemSpider	18 Y
DrugBank	DB01672 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.005.582
KEGG	C00196 Y
PubChem CID	19
UNII	70D5FBB392 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID70858712
InChI InChI=1S/C7H6O4/c8-5-3-1-2-4(6(5)9)7(10)11/h1-3,8-9H,(H,10,11) Y Key: GLDQAMYCGOIJDV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C7H6O4/c8-5-3-1-2-4(6(5)9)7(10)11/h1-3,8-9H,(H,10,11) Key: GLDQAMYCGOIJDV-UHFFFAOYAE
SMILES O=C(O)c1cccc(O)c1O c1cc(c(c(c1)O)O)C(=O)O
Properties
Chemical formula	C7H6O4
Molar mass	154.121 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colorless solid
Density	1.542 g/cm3 (20 °C)[1]
Melting point	205 °C (401 °F; 478 K)[1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

The colorless solid occurs naturally, being formed via the shikimate pathway. It is incorporated into various siderophores, which are molecules that strongly complex iron ions for absorption into bacteria. 2,3-DHB consists of a catechol group, which upon deprotonation binds iron centers very strongly, and the carboxylic acid group by which the ring attaches to various scaffolds through amide bonds. A famous high affinity siderophore is enterochelin, which contains three dihydroxybenzoyl substituents linked to the depsipeptide of serine.^[4][5]

It is a potentially useful iron-chelating drug^[6] and has antimicrobial properties.^[7][8][9]

2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic acid is also a product of human aspirin metabolism.^[10]