Manganese(II) naphthenate as effective catalyst for the clean oxidation of 2-methylnaphthalene by hydrogen peroxide

Oxidation of 2-methylnaphthalene (2-MN) with aqueous hydrogen peroxide was conducted in acetic acid. The epoxidation pathway was investigated by increasing the CH 3 CO 3 H content and adding manganese(II) naphthenate (MnPc) as catalyst. 2-Methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone was obtained in 75.6% conversion and with 80.0% selectivity under the latter conditions. A probable mechanism in which MnPc catalyzes the oxidation of 2-MN by hydrogen peroxide in acetic acid is proposed.