Abstract Vinyl acetate reacts with palladium acetate to produce 1, 4-diacetoxy-1, 3- butadiene. In addition, 1, 1, 4, 4-tetraacetoxybutane and 1, 1, 4-triacetoxy-2-butene are formed. When using palladium chloride in combination with lithium acetate no oxidative coupling takes place: vinyl acetate is then converted into acetaldehyde+ acetic anhydride. The mechanism of this novel oxidative coupling reaction is discussed.
