FIELD: organic synthesis catalysts. SUBSTANCE: copper metal is deposited onto porous support in a zone surrounded by depositions of catalytically active amounts of palladium and gold metals, which are essentially not mixed with copper. According to invention, catalyst is obtained by (i) impregnating support with water-soluble copper salt solution; (ii) fixing copper in the form of water-insoluble compound by action with corresponding alkali compound; (iii) impregnating catalyst with one or more solutions of water-soluble palladium and/or gold salts, amounts of elementary palladium and gold in all last solutions being equal to specified amounts of these metals required for catalyst; (iv) fixing, on catalyst, dissolved palladium and/or gold present in catalyst after each impregnation by interaction of water-soluble salts with corresponding alkali compound to precipitate water-insoluble palladium and/or gold compounds; and (v) reducing into free metals water-insoluble copper, palladium and/or gold salts present in catalyst after each fixation of water-insoluble palladium and/or gold compounds or after fixation of catalyst of all last water-insoluble compounds. Vinyl acetate is prepared by reaction of ethylene, oxygen, and acetic acid by way of bringing these reactants into contact with above-prepared catalyst. EFFECT: increased initial productivity of vinyl acetate production process due to lower carbon dioxide selectivity. 57 cl, 1 tbl, 7 ex
