A new type of trisannelation reaction of acrylates throughacetal formation was developed by Pd(OAc)
2 combined withmolybdovanadophosphoric acid (HPMo
8V
4) and Lewis acidunder atmospheric dioxygen. Thus, the reaction of isobutylacrylate in the presence of Pd(OAc)
2, HPMo
8V
4, and CeCl
3under O
2 (1 atm) in MeOH/AcOH afforded isobutyl 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate in fair yield. The reaction was foundto proceed through the palladium-catalyzed acetalization ofacrylate with methanol followed by the trisannelation reactionof the resulting acetal promoted by CeCl
3.