A process for producing a catalyst, which catalyzes a reaction of an alkene, an alkanoic acid and an oxygen-containing gas to produce an alkenyl alkanoate, that comprises support particles impregnated with palladium, gold and a potassium alkanoate, said process comprising the steps in the order of:
- (a) impregnating the support particles with aqueous solutions of water-soluble palladium and gold compounds so that the weight ratio of palladium to gold is in the range from 2:8 to 8:2;
- (b) precipitating water-insoluble palladium and gold compounds onto the support particles using alkali metal silicates or hydroxides as a precipitating agent;
- (c) washing the precipitated support with water until a decant of said wash water is negative to a silver nitrate test;
- (d) drying the washed precipitated support;
- (e) converting the precipitated water-insoluble palladium and gold compounds to palladium and gold on the support particles using ethylene as a reducing agent at a temperature of greater than 150° C. up to 310° C., hydrogen as a reducing agent at a temperature of greater than 150° C. up to 299° C. or nitrogen as a reducing agent at a temperature of greater than 150° C. up to 500° C.;
- (f) further impregnating the support particles with said potassium alkanoate to a point of incipient wetness of the support particles;
- and
- (g) drying the catalyst.