Being negative can be positive: metal oxide anions promise more selective methane to methanol conversion.

Computational studies are performed to show that metal oxide anionic complexes promote the CH + NO → CHOH + N reaction with low activation barriers for the C-H activation and the formation of the CH-OH bond. The energy for the release of the produced methanol is minimal, reducing the residence time of methanol around the catalytic center and preventing its overoxidation.