Method for production of methyl methacrylate by oxidative esterification using a heterogeneous catalyst

A method for preparing methyl methacrylate from methacrolein and methanol;

• said method comprising contacting a mixture comprising methacrolein, methanol and oxygen with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a support and a noble metal, wherein said support comprises silicon, and wherein said catalyst comprises from 0.1 to 40 mol % titanium and from 0.1 to 10 mol % of at least one noble metal selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, iridium, osmium, silver, palladium, rhodium, and ruthenium, wherein mole percentages are based on total moles of silicon atoms and metal atoms, wherein at least 90 wt % of the noble metal is in the outer 60% of catalyst volume.