1,2-Naphthoquinone

1,2-Naphthoquinone or ortho-naphthoquinone is a polycyclic aromatic organic compound with formula. This yellow solid is prepared by oxidation of 1-amino-2-hydroxynaphthalene with ferric chloride.

Occurrence
This diketone (an ortho-quinone) is a metabolite of naphthalene. It arises from the naphthalene-1,2-oxide.

It is also found in diesel exhaust particles. The accumulation of this toxic metabolite in rats from doses of naphthalene has been shown to cause eye damage, including the formation of cataracts.