Preparation of (meth)acrylic acid esters

A process for the preparation of a (meth)acrylic acid ester, comprising step (a) as follows:

• (a) reacting a (meth)acrylic acid anhydride of Formula (I):
• wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group;
• with a substrate in the presence of a first catalyst to form a product mixture comprising the (meth)acrylic acid ester;
• and wherein:
• the substrate is selected from the group consisting of:
• a primary alcohol with one hydroxyl group, a secondary alcohol with one hydroxyl group, and a tertiary alcohol with one hydroxyl group;
• and
• the first catalyst is magnesium bromide;
• wherein the temperature during step (a) is kept between 40° C. and 110° C. and wherein the reaction has a conversion of greater than 18%;
• and further comprising steps (b) and (c) which are carried out after step (a):
• (b) adding an auxiliary alcohol to the product mixture obtained in step (a), wherein a product mixture comprising the (meth)acrylic acid ester and a (meth)acrylic acid ester of the auxiliary alcohol is formed;
• and
• (c) removing the (meth)acrylic acid ester of the auxiliary alcohol from the product mixture obtained in step (b).