Preparation of Vitamin K3 in Mo–V–P Heteropoly Acid Solutions by Diene Synthesis

The possibility of obtaining vitamin K 3 (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, menadione) by diene synthesis from accessible substrates such as 2-methylphenol ( o -cresol) and 2-methylaniline ( o -toluidine) was shown. The bifunctional catalysts of these processes are the aqueous solutions of Mo–V–P heteropoly acids, which allow the oxidation and diene synthesis to be performed as a one-pot process.