In a method of stabilizing acrylic compounds, a liquid phase containing at least one acrylic compound is mixed with at least one metal and at least one ligand. The acrylic compound can be acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and their respective esters. The metal can be copper, manganese, and cerium. The ligand can be a quinoline compound of formula (I), an N-oxide of a compound of formula (I), 2,2″-bis(2,3-dihydro-3-oxoindolylidene), or an aliphatic y-dentate ligand with y being 2-6 and comprising at least two nitrogen atoms joined by aliphatic or aromatic C1-C4 bridges comprising y-2 further coordinating nitrogen atoms or heteroatoms: where X is OH, NH2, O—(C1-C4)-alkyl, O—C(O)—(C1-C4)-alkyl, or O—C(O)-phenyl; R1 is H, or (C1-C4)-alkyl; R2 is H, (C1-C4)-alkyl, Cl, Br, or SO3H; and R3 is H, Cl or Br.