High Yields of Methanol from Methane by C-H Bond Activation at Low Temperatures.

Activation, oxidation, and functionalization are the essential steps in the direct selective conversion of methane into liquid chemicals such as methanol, formaldehyde, higher paraffins, and olefins. In the best process so far for the synthesis of methanol from methane, the reagent is converted with 90% conversion and 81% selectivity into methyl bisulfate in 102% sulfuric acid at 220°C and in the presence of Pt complexes that contain very stable ligands. The desired product can be trapped by esterification and thus be protected from nonselective consecutive reactions.