Method of producing 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone

摘要

Provided is a method of producing 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone in a large amount, a high yield, and inexpensively. This method comprises oxidizing 2-hydroxynaphthalene with hydrogen peroxide in (1) an alkaline aqueous solution or in (2) a mixture of an alkaline aqueous solution with an inert organic solvent incompatible with water, in the presence of a vanadium catalyst.