In 1836, French chemist Jean-Baptiste Boussingault first synthesized cycloheptanone from the calcium salt of dibasic suberic acid.

[4] Cycloheptanone is also produced by the reaction of cyclohexanone with sodium ethoxide and nitromethane.

The resulting sodium salt of 1-(nitromethyl)cyclohexanol is added to acetic acid and shaken with hydrogen gas in the presence of W-4 Raney nickel catalyst.

Sodium nitrite and acetic acid are then added to give cycloheptanone.

[5] Cycloheptanone is also prepared by ring expansion of cyclohexanone with diazomethane as the methylene source.