Density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level was employed to calculate intramolecular hydrogen bond enthalpies (HIHB), O-H charge differences, O-H bond lengths and bond orders for various substituted catechols and their radicals generated after H-abstraction. It was found that although the charge difference between hydrogen-bonded H and O played a role in determining HIHB, HIHB was mainly governed by the hydrogen bond length. As the oxygen-centered radical has great tendency to form a chemical bond with the H atom, hydrogen bond lengths in catecholic radicals are systematically shorter than those in catechols. Hence, the HIHB for the former are higher than those for the latter. Density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP / 6-31G (d, p) level was employed to calculate intramolecular hydrogen bond enthalpies (HIHB), OH charge differences, OH bond lengths and bond orders for various substituted catechols and their radicals generated after H -abstraction. It was found that although that charge difference between hydrogen-bonded H and O played a role in determining HIHB, HIHB was mainly governed by the hydrogen bond length. As the oxygen-centered radical has great tendency to form a chemical bond with the H atom, hydrogen bond lengths in catecholic radicals are systematically shorter than those in catechols. Therefore, the HIHB for the former are higher than those for the latter.