The kinetics of the direct oxidation of 1-butene to methylethylketone (MEK) is studied in the presence of the new homogeneous catalyst namely an aqueous solution of a Pd salt and Mo-V-P heteropoly acid having non-Keggin-type composition H12P3Mo18V7O85 (HPA-7'). The catalyst (Pd + HPA-7') is characterized by an increased stability and high selectivity (>97%) in the MEK production. The process (1) is realized in two stages: (2) + (3). In stage (2), 1-butene reacts with the catalyst in a butylene reactor 1 with the formation of MEK and a reduced form of the catalyst. After stripping of the product, the reduced catalyst is oxidized by air in a reactor 2 under increased pressure (stage 3). The experimental data allowed us to obtain the kinetic equation for the reaction rate of 1-butene oxidation used for the calculation of the tubular plug-flow reactor 1. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.