A process for the production of acetate esters by the catalytic reaction of an alcohol of the formula ROH and carbon monoxide in contact with a homogeneous catalyst system of rhodium metal atom, a phosphorus containing ligand in which there is present at least one oxo (.dbd.O) oxygen atom attached to a phosphorus atom or a carbon atom to form a Z group and the ##STR1## group is located at least one carbon atom removed and preferably from 2-4 carbon atoms removed from the phosphorus atom of the molecules represented by the formulas ##STR2## and a halogen promoter, under mild reaction conditions, wherein R' is H, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl or alkyl, and wherein 1 or more of said R' groups can be substituted with a Z group but not more than 3 of said R' groups in the molecule are so substituted; a is an integer from 0-4; b is an integer from 0-3; and Z is P(O)R'R'; --C(O)OR" or C(O)R", wherein R" is R'; and wherein ROH is methanol or a mixture of methanol and at least one higher alcohol.