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

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 f...

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Veröffentlicht in:Nature communications 2024-09, Vol.15 (1), p.7943-7, Article 7943
Hauptverfasser: Pei, Runbo, Chang, Wenju, He, Liancheng, Wang, Tao, Zhao, Yue, Liang, Yong, Wang, Xinping
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung: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. Activation of natural gas alkanes using main-group systems typically requires heating or photo-irradiation under high atmospheric pressure with low regioselectivity. Here the authors report Lewis acid-carbene adduct activation of C–H bonds in ethane, propane and n -butane under one atmospheric pressure and at room temperature with high selectivity.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-52185-w