Process for the production of 6-methylheptanone

A process for the production of a methylketone of a formula (1)

• wherein x represents a number from 1-3, comprising:
• reacting hydrogen, acetone and an aldehyde of formula (2)
• as reaction components;
• wherein x represents a number from 0-2 and the broken lines each represent an olefinic double bond;
• wherein said process is carried out as a 2-phase reaction and the reaction components are reacted in the presence of a catalyst suspension which contains a suspended heterogeneous hydrogenating contact and a dissolved, alkali- or earth alkali metal-containing aldolizing catalyst;
• and
• wherein an aqueous phase of the catalyst suspension following phase separation of the aqueous phase from an organic phase, is used for a further reaction cycle at the end of the 2-phase reaction, wherein the catalyst suspension is a 2-phase mixture with acetone in the presence of hydrogen, and the aldehyde is continually dosed into it, and wherein the aldolizing catalyst is dissolved in the aqueous phase, which is also the suspension medium of the heterogeneous hydrogenating contact.