All current routes for the synthesis of hydroquinone utilize benzene as the starting material. An alternate route to hydroquinone has now been elaborated from glucose. ... Glucose is first converted into quinic acid using microbial catalysis. Quinic acid is then chemically converted into hydroquinone.

Uses. Hydroquinone has a variety of uses principally associated with its action as a reducing agent that is soluble in water. It is a major component in most black and white photographic developers for film and paper where, with the compound metol, it reduces silver halides to elemental silver.

HYDROQUINONE FOR SYNTHESIS