Methoxycarbonylation of vinyl acetate catalysed by palladium complexes of bis(ditertiarybutylphosphinomethyl)benzene and related ligands

High selectivities to methyl acetoxypropanoate esters (b : l up to 3.6 : 1) are obtained from the methoxycarbonylation of vinyl acetate catalysed by palladium complexes of bis(ditertiarybutylphosphinomethyl)benzene in the presence of acid, provided that the acid concentration does not exceed that of the free phosphine.