PRODUCTION OF TERTIARY BUTYL ACETATE FROM MTBE

Disclosed is a process for the production of t-butyl acetate and coproductio n of methyl acetate or ethyl acetate, directly from MTBE or ETBE, by contactin g a mixture of acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and MTBE, or alternatively, ETBE , with an acid catalyst. Unlike the art, disclosed is a route employing a tert - butyl ether as starting material for the desired production or coproduction of tert-butyl acetate. Also unlike the art, acetic anhydride is employed to rea ct with the water of formation from the esterification reaction to control formation of the t-butyl alcohol.