FIELD: chemical technology. SUBSTANCE: ethane and/or ethylene containing molecular oxygen is contacted at 100-600 C, under pressure 1-50 bars with catalytic composition containing tungsten, rhenium, vanadium, antimony, niobium, at least one element taken from the group involving lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium in combination with oxygen at the following ratio: Wa Rec Vb Nb 0.01-0.2 Sb 0.005-0.2 Dd where a = 0.01-1.0; b = 0.001-1.0; c = 0.001-1.0; d = 0.001-1.0, and a+b+c+d = 0.5-1.0; D - element from the group containing lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium. EFFECT: improved method of synthesis. 10 cl, 2 tbl
