Catalytic synthesis of 1,3-butadiene from dimethyl ether (DME) has been carried out for the first time. It has been established that 1,3-butadiene forms via three possible routes of reactions between DME conversion products: by reaction of propylene with formaldehyde according to the Prins condensation mechanism, by DME isomerization of to ethanol followed by its conversion to 1,3-butadiene through acetaldehyde, and by dehydrogenation of butylenes.