Insights into the synthesis of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM): A review

Vinyl acetate is the main derivative of acetic acid. Its production process stems from the acetoxylation of acetylene or ethylene, with the ethylene route being the major commercial route today. As vinyl acetate is an organic precursor with wide application in the polymer industry, its synthesis and related aspects are of great interest in the scientific field. Based on theoretical and experimental evidence, this article provides an analysis of vinyl acetate production, focusing on the two main industrial routes, the catalysts used on a commercial and laboratory scale, and the reaction mechanisms involved in each synthesis pathway.