Process to produce a mono vinyl ether

A process to produce a mono vinyl ether of formula I

• R—O—CH═CH2
• wherein R represents an organic group with at least three carbon atoms, the process comprising:
• a) reacting a mono hydroxy compound of formula II
• R—OH
• wherein R has the above meaning,
• with acetylene in presence of a catalyst to get a product mixture comprising the mono vinyl ether, unconverted mono hydroxy compound, and the catalyst;
• b) adding an ester comprising at least one ester group of formula III
• X—O2C—
• wherein X is a hydrocarbon group comprising less carbon atoms than R,
• to the product mixture obtained in a) and reacting the remaining mono hydroxy compound R—OH with the ester in the presence of the catalyst to get a transesterification product comprising at least one ester group of formula IV
• R—O2C—
• and an alcohol of formula V
• X—OH
• wherein R and X have the above meaning;
• and
• c) isolating the mono vinyl ether from a product mixture obtained after b), optionally followed by purification of the mono vinyl ether by distillation.