Catalytic, Oxidative Condensation of CH4 to CH3COOH in One Step via CH Activation
Roy A. Periana,*
Oleg Mironov,
Doug Taube,
Gaurav Bhalla,
CJ Jones
Acetic acid is an important petrochemical that is currently
produced from methane (or coal) in a three-step process based
on carbonylation of methanol. We report a direct, selective,
oxidative condensation of two methane molecules to acetic acid
at 180°C in liquid sulfuric acid. Carbon-13 isotopic labeling
studies show that both carbons of acetic acid originate from
methane. The reaction is catalyzed by palladium, and the results
are consistent with the reaction occurring by tandem catalysis,
involving methane C-H activation to generate Pd-CH
3 species,
followed by efficient oxidative carbonylation with methanol,
generated in situ from methane, to produce acetic acid.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rperiana{at}usc.edu
