AbstractThe high‐pressure synthesis of n‐propyl acrylate from acetylene, carbon monoxide and n‐propanol has been studied in detail. Nickel iodide–silica gel (Ni : SiO2= 50 : 50) and nickel acetate–silica gel (Ni : SiO2= 50 : 50) were the most active catalysts (yields 58.78%, 55.54% respectively on acetylene input basis). Besides n‐propyl acrylate, the reaction product contains acrylic acid, acetaldehyde, liquid hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ethylene and other unsaturated h