One of the remaining "grand challenges" in chemistry is the development of a next generation, less expensive, cleaner process that can allow the vast reserves of methane from natural gas to augment or replace oil as the source of fuels and chemicals. Homogeneous (gas/liquid) systems that convert methane to functionalized products with emphasis on reports after 1995 are reviewed. Gas/solid, bioinorganic, biological, and reaction systems that do not specifically involve methane functionalization are excluded. The various reports are grouped under the main element involved in the direct reactions with methane. Central to the review is classification of the various reports into 12 categories based on both practical considerations and the mechanisms of the elementary reactions with methane. Practical considerations are based on whether or not the system reported can directly or indirectly utilize O as the only net coreactant based only on thermodynamic potentials. Mechanistic classifications are based on whether the elementary reactions with methane proceed by chain or nonchain reactions and with stoichiometric reagents or catalytic species. The nonchain reactions are further classified as CH activation (CHA) or CH oxidation (CHO). The bases for these various classifications are defined. In particular, CHA reactions are defined as elementary reactions with methane that result in a discrete methyl intermediate where the formal oxidation state (FOS) on the carbon remains unchanged at -IV relative to that in methane. In contrast, CHO reactions are defined as elementary reactions with methane where the carbon atom of the product is oxidized and has a FOS less negative than -IV. This review reveals that the bulk of the work in the field is relatively evenly distributed across most of the various areas classified. However, a few areas are only marginally examined, or not examined at all. This review also shows that, while significant scientific progress has been made, greater advances, particularly in developing systems that can utilize O, will be required to develop a practical process that can replace the current energy and capital intensive natural gas conversion process. We believe that this classification scheme will provide the reader with a rapid way to identify systems of interest while providing a deeper appreciation and understanding, both practical and fundamental, of the extensive literature on methane functionalization. The hope is that this could accelerate progress toward meeting this "grand challenge."

Owing to the strong nonpolar bonds involved, selective C−H functionalization of methane and ethane to esters remains a challenge for molecular homogeneous chemistry. We report that the computationally predicted main‐group p‐block SbV(TFA)5 complex selectively functionalizes the C−H bonds of methane and ethane to the corresponding mono and/or diol trifluoroacetate esters at 110–180 °C with yields for ethane of up to 60 % with over 90 % selectivity. Experimental and computational studies support a unique mechanism that involves SbV‐mediated C−H activation followed by functionalization of a SbV‐alkyl intermediate.

The complex Pt(SnBu(t)3)2(CNBu(t))2(H)2, 1, was obtained from the reaction of Pt(COD)2 and Bu(t)3SnH, followed by addition of CNBu(t). The two hydride ligands in 1 can be eliminated, both in solution and in the solid state, to yield Pt(SnBu(t)3)2(CNBu(t))2, 2. Addition of hydrogen to 2 at room temperature in solution and in the solid state regenerates 1. Complex 2 catalyzes H2-D2 exchange in solution to give HD. The proposed mechanism of exchange involves reductive elimination of Bu(t)3SnH from 1 to afford vacant sites on the Pt center, thus facilitating the exchange process. This is supported by isolation and characterization of Pt(SnMes3)(SnBu(t)3)(CNBu(t))2, 3, when the addition of H2 to 2 was carried out in the presence of free ligand Mes3SnH (Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2). Complex Pt(SnMes3)2(CNBu(t))2, 5, can be prepared from the reaction of Pt(COD)2 with Mes3SnH and CNBu(t). The exchange reaction of 2 with Ph3SnH gave Pt(SnPh3)3(CNBu(t))2(H), 6, wherein both SnBu(t)3 ligands are replaced by SnPh3. Complex 6 decomposes in air to form square planar Pt(SnPh3)2(CNBu(t))2, 7. The complex Pt(SnPr(i)3)2(CNBu(t))2, 8, was also prepared. Out of the four analogous complexes Pt(SnR3)2(CNBu(t))2 (R = Bu(t), Mes, Ph, or Pr(i)), only the Bu(t) analogue does both H2 activation and H2-D2 exchange. This is due to steric effects imparted by the bulky Bu(t) groups that distort the geometry of the complex considerably from planarity. The reaction of Pt(COD)2 with Bu(t)3SnH and CO gas afforded trans-Pt(SnBu(t)3)2(CO)2, 9. Compound 9 can be converted to 2 by replacement of the CO ligands with CNBu(t) via the intermediate Pt(SnBu(t)3)2(CNBu(t))2(CO), 10.

To our knowledge, there is no precedent for the direct conversion of light alkanes to aminated products by CH activation. Previous molecular systems reported for alkane amination operate by radical or nitrene-type reactions which generally result in unintended overfunctionalization. Here we disclose the first examples of direct conversion of methane and ethane to aminated products by C–H activation facilitated by electrophilic, main-group complexes dissolved in N-acids. Alkane conversion products were achieved with selectivities up to >95% and yields up to 65% based on added main-group electrophile. Experimental studies and DFT calculations support a C–H activation mechanism to generate a metal–alkyl intermediate that undergoes N-functionalization.

The reaction of Pt(COD)2 with one equivalent of tri-tert-butylstannane, Bu(t)3SnH, at room temperature yields Pt(SnBu(t)3)(COD)(H)(3) in quantitative yield. In the presence of excess Bu(t)3SnH, the reaction goes further, yielding the dinuclear bridging stannylene complex [Pt(SnBu(t)3)(μ-SnBu(t)2)(H)2]2 (4). The dinuclear complex 4 reacts rapidly and reversibly with CO to furnish [Pt(SnBu(t)3)(μ-SnBu(t)2)(CO)(H)2]2 (5). Complex 3 reacts with N,N'-di-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene, IBu(t), at room temperature to give the dinuclear bridging hydride complex [Pt(SnBu(t)3)(IBu(t))(μ-H)]2 (6). Complex 6 reacts with CO, C2H4, and H2 to give the corresponding mononuclear Pt complexes Pt(SnBu(t)3)(IBu(t))(CO)(H)(7), Pt(SnBu(t)3)(IBu(t))(C2H4)(H)(8), and Pt(SnBu(t)3)(IBu(t))(H)3 (9), respectively. The reaction of IBu(t) with the complex Pt(SnBu(t)3)2(CO)2 (10) yielded an abnormal Pt-carbene complex Pt(SnBu(t)3)2(aIBu(t))(CO) (11). DFT computational studies of the dimeric complexes [Pt(SnR3)(NHC)(μ-H)]2, the potentially more reactive monomeric complexes Pt(SnR3)(NHC)(H) and the trihydride species Pt(SnBu(t)3)(IBu(t))(H)3 have been performed, for NHC = IMe and R = Me and for NHC = IBu(t) and R = Bu(t). The structures of complexes 3-8 and 11 have been determined by X-ray crystallography and are reported.