Selective partial oxidation of light alkanes using iodine oxides and halides

Abstract

While natural gas is a plentiful energy resource, methods to effectively convert light alkanes to readily transported liqs. are energy and capital intense. Com. available and inexpensive halide and iodine oxide salts can selectively functionalize methane, ethane and propane in high yields in trifluoroacetic acid solvent at temps. ∼200 °C. For the conversion of methane, yields > 40 % have been demonstrated with > 97 % selectivity for Me trifluoroacetate. Under photolytic conditions, the conversion of methane to Me trifluoroacetate also proceeds with high yield and selectivity (∼50 % and ∼95 %, resp.) Ethane and propane can also be functionalized photolytically with similar yields and selectivities as are obsd. under thermal conditions. These results and details of mechanistic studies will be presented.