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.