It is mainly used as antioxidant, plant protection agent, synthetic resin, pharmaceutical, pesticide intermediate and raw material of flavor and fragrance.

p-tert-butylcatechol is an important fine chemical product with a wide range of applications. Its synthesis is generally based on the alkylation method of catechol. According to literature research, alkylation method for the synthesis of p-tert-butylcatechol has long reaction time, high energy demand, serious corrosion of equipment, and environmental pollution caused by product separation process. These characteristics do not meet the requirements of industrial production and green chemistry. The hydroxylation of phenols with hydrogen peroxide has mild reaction conditions, easy and inexpensive raw materials, and high environmental friendliness, which meets the requirements of green chemistry. Among them, the hydroxylation process of phenol has been industrialized, and the theoretical study of benzene hydroxylation reaction is also quite mature. However, the direct hydroxylation of p-tert-butylphenol with hydrogen peroxide to prepare p-tert-butylcatechol has been reported relatively rarely.