In the structure of secondary metabolites such as olivin, we find hydroxytyosol, a natural product of many classifications, also known as 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl ethanol. Hydroxytyrosol has a high content in olive leaves and fruits. It has strong antioxidant and free radical scavenging ability. Hydroxytyrosol is commonly used in medicine, food, cosmetics and other fields.
Hydroxytyrosol can be extracted by enzymatic or acid hydrolysis and from olive oil waste. In addition, there are many synthetic methods, such as chemical or biocatalysis to convert tyrosol and phenylethanol into hydroxytyrosol, but this method is mainly used for small amounts of laboratory synthesis and cannot meet the requirements of industrial production. The method of preparing hydroxytyrosol with low cost and simple process still needs to be studied from many aspects. For example, catechol is used as a raw material, which is easily available for synthesis. The production method of hydroxytyrosol is still worth exploring and testing.