Full conversion of polybutadienes to polyketones was easily achieved using low oxygen pressure and catalytic amounts of palladium chloride and copper chloride in 1,2-dimethoxyethane at 80 degrees C. The conversions and selectivities of this Wacker-type reaction are controlled by the reaction conditions. The polyketone products were characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR and infrared spectroscopy and by gel permeation chromatography.