A single channel microfluidic electrolysis cell being developed for application alongside other routine microfluidic operations in the laboratory has been applied to the methoxylation of N-formylpyrrolidine. It is shown that very high conversions (>>90%) in a single pass can be achieved and it is possible to obtain several grams of product per hour with a good selectivity in optimised conditions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.