The industrial processes for the manufacture of vinyl ethers are based on the reaction of alcohols with . With this method, discovered by Reppe, alkali hydroxides or alcoholates are used as catalysts:



The reaction is usually conducted in the liquid phase and, depending on the boiling point of the alcohol, either at normal pressure or 3 to 20 bar at 120 to 180°C.

Acetylene, diluted with N₂, is introduced from below, counter-current to the alcohol trickling down the reaction column. The vinyl ether passes overhead with unreacted acetylene and N₂. Selectivities can be as high as 95%. After separation, the ether can be purified by distillation. Methyl-, ethyl-, isopropyl-, n-butyl-, isobutyl-, and 2-ethylhexyl vinyl ethers are commercially important.

Acetylene-independent processes are based on an oxidative addition of alcohols to ethylene in the presence of PdCl₂/CuCl₂; they have not yet been practiced commercially.