Synthetic Study of Vitamin K₃ (Menadione, 2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone): A Review

Vitamin K is a derivative of menadione. It is also known as coagulation vitamin or anti hemorrhagic vitamin. Vitamins are classified as typical fine chemical with price above US $ 10 per Kg and volume of about 1000–10,000 per anum. Menadione was oxidised by various oxidising agent's i.e. Chromic acid in the presence of acetic acid and chromic acid. It is also synthesised by the oxidation in the presence of acetoitrile, this oxidation is catalysed by chromium. Menadione can be synthesised by gas phase oxidation. It is also synthesised by the diene synthesis. The other synthetic oxidation of menadione was in the presence of various other oxidising agents such as hydrogen peroxide in the presence of acetic acid and in the presence of monopersulfate. Menadione can be electrosynthesised from 2-methyl-5, 8-dihydro-1, 4-naphthalenediol by a four-electron oxidation procedure.