A method for producing a ketone of the general formula wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, independently of one another, can each represent hydrogen, -NO 2, a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl, acyl, aryl or heteroaryl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, -OH, -NH 2, halogen, -NH-alkyl, -N(alkyl) 2 or -N + (alkyl) 3, or R1 and R2 or R2 and R3 can represent a bridging, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or heterocyclic functional group and R6 and R7, independently of one another, represent a secondary, tertiary or quaternary carbon atom, and Q represents an R6 and R7 bridging, substituted or unsubstituted group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, characterized in that a) a ketone of general formula wherein the functional groups R6, R7 and Q are identical to general formula, is reacted in the presence of a phosphonate of general formula wherein R8 and R9, independently of one another, each represent a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, having a benzonitrile of general formula wherein the functional groups R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are identical to general formula, and subsequently b) the alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone of general formula obtained in step a) wherein the functional groups R1 to R7 and Q are identical to general formula, is selectively hydrogenated to form a ketone of general formula. wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, independently of one another, can each represent hydrogen, -NO 2, a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl, acyl, aryl or heteroaryl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, -OH, -NH 2, halogen, -NH-alkyl, -N(alkyl) 2 or -N + (alkyl) 3, or R1 and R2 or R2 and R3 can represent a bridging, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or heterocyclic functional group and R6 and R7, independently of one another, represent a secondary, tertiary or quaternary carbon atom, and Q represents an R6 and R7 bridging, substituted or unsubstituted group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, characterized in that a) a ketone of general formula wherein the functional groups R6, R7 and Q are identical to general formula, is reacted in the presence of a phosphonate of general formula wherein R8 and R9, independently of one another, each represent a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, having a benzonitrile of general formula wherein the functional groups R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are identical to general formula, and subsequently b) the alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone of general formula obtained in step a) wherein the functional groups R1 to R7 and Q are identical to general formula, is selectively hydrogenated to form a ketone of general formula. a) a ketone of general formula wherein the functional groups R6, R7 and Q are identical to general formula, is reacted in the presence of a phosphonate of general formula wherein R8 and R9, independently of one another, each represent a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, having a benzonitrile of general formula wherein the functional groups R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are identical to general formula, and subsequently b) the alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone of general formula obtained in step a) wherein the functional groups R1 to R7 and Q are identical to general formula, is selectively hydrogenated to form a ketone of general formula.