Initial decarbonylation rate is inversely correlated to Pd catalyst stability. Adding Sn to a Pd/SiO2 catalyst promotes the stable conversion of heptanoic acid. Dehydration and decarbonylation are the primary reactions over PdSn/SiO2. Sn migrates to Pd when contacted by vapor-phase heptanoic acid. Partially-reduced SnOx is the promoting species associated with Pd in PdSn catalysts.