The general procedure for the synthesis of 2-methyl-1,3-cyclopentanedione from 1,3-cyclopentanedione and tert-butyl peroxybenzoate was as follows: 1,3-cyclopentanedione (0.098 g, 1 mmol), tert-butyl peroxybenzoate (0.58 g, 3 mmol), CuCl (0.01 g, 0.1 mmol), and 2 mL of acetic acid were added to a reaction flask, and the reaction was carried out at 120 °C Reaction at 120°C. The progress of the reaction was monitored by thin layer chromatography (TLC) until the reaction was complete. After completion of the reaction, the crude product was purified by column chromatography (eluent ratio of petroleum ether:ethyl acetate = 40:1) to afford the target product 2-methyl-1,3-cyclopentanedione in 68% yield.
