Abstract A direct oxidative methoxycarbonylation of propyne with carbon monoxide in methanol medium in the presence of copper-palladium catalytic system results in methyl 2- butynoate in 18-31% yield. Depending on reaction conditions allene provides either a mixture of methyl 2-(chloromethyl) acrylate and methyl 2-(methoxymethyl) acrylate (∼ 3-4: 1) in overall yield 16-23%, or methyl 2-(methoxymethyl) acrylate in 19% yield.
