Main-Group Compounds Selectively Oxidize Mixtures of Methane, Ethane, and Propane to Alcohol Esters

Abstract

Light Alkanes, Heavy Metals: Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has rapidly increased the supply of natural gas and has motivated methods to convert its constituents into commodity chemicals. Hashiguchi et al. (p. 1232 ) have found that lead and thallium salts are both efficient and selective oxidants, not only for methane, but for ethane and propane as well. In trifluoroacetic acid solvent, the alkanes are cleanly oxidized to the trifluoroacetate esters of their respective alcohols and 1,2-diols. Building on earlier discoveries, this work paves the way to developing methods that reduce our dependence on petroleum for industrial feedstocks.