Abstract
Direct partial oxidation of methane, ethane, and propane to their respective trifluoroacetate esters is achieved by a homogeneous hypervalent iodine(III) complex in non-superacidic (trifluoroacetic acid) solvent. The reaction is highly selective for ester formation (>99 %). In the case of ethane, greater than 0.5 M EtTFA can be achieved. Preliminary kinetic analysis and density functional calculations support a nonradical electrophilic CH activation and iodine alkyl functionalization mechanism. Gas up: Direct partial oxidation of methane, ethane, and propane to their respective trifluoroacetate (TFA) esters is achieved by a homogeneous hypervalent iodine(III) complex in non-superacidic solvent (HTFA). The reaction is highly selective, and for ethane, greater than 0.5 M Et=TFA can be achieved. Preliminary kinetic analysis and density functional calculations support a nonradical electrophilic CH activation and iodine alkyl functionalization mechanism.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 10490-10494 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Angewandte Chemie - International Edition |
Volume | 53 |
Issue number | 39 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 14 2014 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Catalysis
- General Chemistry
Keywords
- C=H activation
- alkanes
- hypervalent compounds
- iodine
- main-group elements