Process for preparing cyclododecanone

A process for preparing cyclododecanone (CDON) by a reaction route I, comprising

• a. epoxidizing cyclododecene (CDEN) to epoxycyclododecane (CDAN epoxide), and
• b. rearranging the CDAN epoxide to CDON to obtain a mixture comprising said CDON and CDEN,
• wherein:
• CDEN is separated from the CDON-containing mixture and sent to the epoxidation to CDAN epoxide in step a;
• the CDAN epoxide from step a comprises cyclododecane (CDAN) which is at least partly removed prior to the rearrangement in step b;
• and
• the CDAN removed prior to the rearrangement in step b is sent to a reaction route II for preparation of CDON, comprising:
• c. hydrogenation of cyclododecatriene (CDT) to CDAN,
• d. oxidation of CDAN to give a mixture comprising cyclododecanol (CDOL) and CDON and
• e. dehydrogenation of CDOL to CDON.