Methane Activation and Catalytic Ethylene Formation on Free Au2

Au pairs: Whereas one methane molecule is not dehydrogenated by free gold‐dimer cations, the cooperative interaction of two methane ligands initiates a catalytic formation of ethylene. The cycle is closed by the adsorption of a third methane molecule that cooperatively activates the release of ethylene (see scheme yellow Au, green C, blue H). This cycle is derived from ab initio calculations and gas‐phase reaction kinetics measurements.