Continuous production of 1-methyl-1-cyclopenten-3-one using a micro module combined with tubular mixers

A high pressure microreaction system was applied to synthesize 1-methyl-1-cyclopenten-3-one. Design of experiment was used to identify the most dominant factors and the interactions from the microreaction system of an intramolecular aldol condensation reaction of 2,6-hexanedione. The response surface methodology coupled with Box–Behnken design was applied to obtain the optimum process conditions. The feed flow rates or residence time were identified as significant variables of this microreaction system. 1-methyl-1-cyclopenten-3-one was isolated in 60% yield after purification with 99.9% purity within the optimum operation ranges determined by design of experiment method.