Catalytic Oxidation of Light Alkanes Mediated at Room Temperature by a Tricopper Cluster Complex Immobilized in Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

The controlled oxidation of light alkanes is challenging chemistry. Here, we describe the further development of a catalytic system consisting of a tricopper cluster complex immobilized in mesoporous silica nanoparticles, which we have recently shown to be capable of efficient conversion of methane into methanol without overoxidation under ambient conditions, to follow the oxidation of (i) ethane to ethanol, (ii) propane to isopropanol and acetone, and (iii) a 1:1:1 mixture of methane, ethane and propane. The efficacy of the system to mediate the catalytic conversion of these light alkanes in natural gas into liquid oxidized products is also assessed.