Preparation of olefinic esters

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ETHYLENICALLY UNSATURATED HYDROCARBYL ESTERS OF SATURATED HYDROCARBYL MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS; WHICH COMPRISES PROVIDING IN AN ESSENTIALLY HALIDE FREE AND ESSENTIALLY ANHYDROUS HOMOGENEOUS LIQUID PHASE MIXTURE, AN ETHYLENICALLY UNSATURATED HYDROCARBON FREE OF ACETYLENCI UNSATURATION, A SATURATED HYDROCARBYL MONOCARBOXYLIC ACID, A CATALYTIC AMOUNT OF A METALLIC COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKANOATES, CYCLOALKANE CARBOXYLATES AND ACETYLACETONATE COMPLEXES OF METALS WHICH ARE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF IR, AU, RH, PT, RD, AND RU, A METALLIC CATALYTIC CO-OXIDANT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKANOATES, AMMONIUM ALKANOATES, CYCLOALKANE CARBOXYLATES AND ACETYLACETONATE COMPLEXES OF METALS WHICH ARE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CU, FE, CR, CO, PB, NI, MO, W, V, MN, OS, THE LATHANIDES, AND MIXTURES THEREOF; THE MOLAR RATIO OF THE CO-OXIDANT TO THE METALLIC COMPOUND BEING GREATER THAN ONE; AND RECOVERING ESTER FROM THE MIXTURE.