Method of producing higher alkanones, preferably 6-undecanone, and derivatives thereof

A method of producing one or more higher alkanones, the method comprising:

• (a′) producing ethanol and/or acetate from a synthesis gas comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of CO and CO2 in a presence of at least one acetogenic bacteria;
• (a) contacting the ethanol and/or acetate with at least one microorganism capable of carrying out carbon chain elongation to produce hexanoic acid and/or a hexanoic acid ester from the ethanol and/or acetate;
• (b) in situ extracting of the hexanoic acid and/or ester from the contacting (a) using at least one extractant in an aqueous medium, wherein the extractant comprises an alkyl-phosphine oxide and an alkane comprising at least 12 carbon atoms;
• or wherein the extractant comprises a trialkylamine and an alkane comprising at least 12 carbon atoms;
• and
• (c) contacting the extracted hexanoic acid and/or ester from the extracting (b) with at least one ketonization catalyst and optionally a further alkanoic acid comprising 1 to 22 carbon atoms under suitable reaction conditions for chemical ketonization of hexanoic acid and optionally the further alkanoic acid to a higher alkenone,
• wherein the at least one microorganism is grown in a mixture of the aqueous medium and the extractant during step (b),
• wherein after step (b) the aqueous medium comprising the at least one microorganism is recycled back into step (a),
• wherein the at least one microorganism is in direct contact with the ethanol and/or acetate during step (a) and are not immobilized or separated by a membrane.