Activation of light alkanes at room temperature and ambient pressure

Haochen Zhang, Chunsong Li, Wenxuan Liu, Guangsheng Luo, William A. Goddard, Mu Jeng Cheng, Bingjun Xu, Qi Lu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Light alkane activation under mild conditions remains a substantial challenge. Here we report an aqueous reaction system capable of selectively converting light alkanes into corresponding olefins and oxygenates at room temperature and ambient pressure using Cu powder as the catalyst and O2 as the oxidant. In ethane activation, we achieved a combined production of ethylene and acetic acid at a rate of 2.27 mmol gCu−1 h−1, with a combined selectivity up to 97%. Propane is converted to propylene with a selectivity up to 94% and a production rate up to 1.83 mmol gCu−1 h−1, while methane is converted mainly to carbon dioxide, methanol and acetic acid. On the basis of catalytic experiments, isotopic labelling experiments, spectroscopic insights and density functional theory calculations, we put forward mechanistic understandings in which the C–H bond is activated by the surface oxide species generated during the oxidation process, forming alkyl groups as key reaction intermediates. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)666-675
Number of pages10
JournalNature Catalysis
Volume6
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023 Aug

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Catalysis
  • Bioengineering
  • Biochemistry
  • Process Chemistry and Technology

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