Pd (II) Cl2 (1 mole equivalent)/CuCl/DMF-H2O/O2/2h catalysed oxidation of various prop-2- enyl ethers 1a–12a is reported to result in the formation of Wacker ketones 1b, 3b, 5b, 6b, 9b, 11b, 12b (12–51%), hydrolysis products 2c, 4c–7c, 9c–12c (12–43%) and η2-vinyl complexes of palladium chloride 2d, 4d, 7d, 8d (52–94%) respectively. The corresponding prop-1-enyl ethers 2e, 4e–12e under similar conditions react with a catalytic amount of Pd ...