Methods for producing cyclic and acyclic ketones

A method for producing at least one cyclic ketone, comprising:

• contacting at least one ketone independently having a structure of formula (A) with catalyst to form a reaction mixture, wherein the contacting of the at least one ketone with the catalyst produces at least one cyclic ketone having a structure of formula (I), (II), (III) or (IV), or any isomers thereof, from at least a portion of the at least one ketone, wherein:
• the at least one ketone independently having the structure of formula (A) is:
• wherein:
• each R1 and R2 is independently H, unsubstituted alkyl, substituted alkyl, —C(Rt)3, —CH(Rt)2, unsubstituted aryl, substituted aryl, unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted alicyclyl, substituted alicyclyl, unsubstituted heterocyclyl, or substituted heterocyclyl,
• wherein each Rt is independently unsubstituted aliphatic, substituted aliphatic, unsubstituted aryl, substituted aryl, unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, unsubstituted alicyclyl, substituted alicyclyl, unsubstituted heterocyclyl, or substituted heterocyclyl;
• each x and y is independently an integer greater than or equal to 1, provided that when x and y are both 1, either R1 or R2 is other than H;
• the cyclic ketone having the structure of formula (I) is:
• or any isomers thereof, wherein:
• Ra1 is —(CH2)x-1R1;
• Rb1 is —(CH2)xR1;
• Rc1 is —(CH2)y-1R2;
• Rd1 is —(CH2)xR1;
• Re1 is —(CH2)yR2;
• and
• Rf1 is —(CH2)y-1R2;
• the cyclic ketone having the structure of formula (II) is:
• or any isomers thereof, wherein:
• Ra2 is —(CH2)y-1R2;
• Rb2 is —(CH2)xR1;
• Rc2 is —(CH2)y-1R2;
• Rd2 is —(CH2)xR1;
• Re2 is —(CH2)yR2;
• and
• Rf2 is —(CH2)x-1R1;
• the cyclic ketone having the structure of formula (III) is:
• or any isomers thereof, wherein:
• Ra3 is —(CH2)x-1R1;
• Rb3 is —(CH2)yR2;
• Rc3 is —(CH2)x-1R1;
• Rd3 is —(CH2)xR1;
• Re3 is —(CH2)yR2;
• and
• Rf1 is —(CH2)y-1R2;
• the cyclic ketone having the structure of formula (IV) is:
• or any isomers thereof, wherein:
• Ra4 is —(CH2)y-1R2;
• Rb4 is —(CH2)yR2;
• Rc4 is —(CH2)x-1R1;
• Rd4 is —(CH2)xR1;
• Re4 is —(CH2)yR2;
• and
• Rf4 is —(CH2)x-1R1, and
• the catalyst comprises:
• an apatite;
• a sepiolite;
• a chrysotile;
• a zeolite;
• a mesoporous silica;
• a hydrotalcite;
• or a synthetic talc, or any combinations thereof.