New routes to Vitamin K3

O. A. Kholdeeva , O. V. Zalomaeva , A. B. Sorokin (1) , I. D. Ivanchikova , C. Della Pina , M. Rossi

1 IRCELYON - Institut de recherches sur la catalyse et l'environnement de Lyon

New clean and efficient methods for the production of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (MNQ, menadione, Vitamin K3) based on the oxidation of 2-methyl-1-naphthol (MNL) with cheap and environmentally benign oxidants, aqueous hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide and molecular oxygen, using three types of true heterogeneous catalysts, such as hydrothermally stable mesoporous titanium-silicate Ti-MMM-2, silica supported iron phthalocyanine and supported gold nanoparticles, are reported. Advantages and drawbacks of the catalytic systems are discussed. Surprisingly, non-catalytic oxidation of MNL with molecular oxygen shows superior selectivity and volume yield of MNQ compared to the known catalytic methods.

Domaines: Environnement et Société; Catalyse

O. A. Kholdeeva, O. V. Zalomaeva, A. B. Sorokin, I. D. Ivanchikova, C. Della Pina, et al.. New routes to Vitamin K3. Catalysis Today, 2007, 121, pp.58-64. ⟨10.1016/j.cattod.2006.11.011⟩. ⟨hal-00169295⟩