Photolytic conversion of light alkanes to alkyl esters by iodine oxides and chloride salts in non-superacidic media

Abstract

Despite the abundance of natural gas and the demand for efficient energy utilization, methods to convert light alkanes to liq. products are energy- and capital-intensive. Using mixts. of inexpensive iodine oxide and chloride salts in trifluoroacetic acid solvent at elevated temps. (~200 °C) produces alkyl esters from light alkanes in high yields, up to 40% based on methane, with >97% selectivity. Under photolytic conditions, high yields and selectivities are obsd. For example, optimization of the photolytic functionalization of methane enables ~50% yield of Me trifluoroacetate with ~95% selectivity. While these yields are similar to those of the thermal process, significantly higher product concns. are obtained photolytically. These results and details of mechanistic investigations will be discussed.