Main-group compounds selectively activate natural gas alkanes under room temperature and atmospheric pressure

Runbo Pei, Wenju Chang, Liancheng He, Tao Wang, Yue Zhao, Yong Liang () and Xinping Wang ()
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Runbo Pei: Nanjing University
Wenju Chang: Fuzhou University
Liancheng He: Nanjing University
Tao Wang: Nanjing University
Yue Zhao: Nanjing University
Yong Liang: Nanjing University
Xinping Wang: Nanjing University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Most C–H bond activations of natural gas alkanes rely on transition metal complexes. Activations by using main-group systems have been reported but required heating or photo-irradiation under high atmospheric pressure with rather low regioselectivity. Here we report that Lewis acid-carbene adducts facilely undergo oxidative additions to C–H bonds of ethane, propane and n-butane with high selectivity under room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The Lewis acids can be moved by the addition of a base and the carbene-derived products can be easily converted into aldehydes. This work offers a route for main-group element compounds to selectively functionalise C–H bonds of natural gas alkanes and other small molecules.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52185-w

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