Exploratory studies on the vapor-phase oxidation and oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane and propane have been conducted in the presence of a countercurrent "rain" of noncatalytic dispersed particulate solids which carry the heat of reaction from the reactor and maintain essentially isothermal conditions. The manner in which the independent process variables affect the conversion levels and product yields is discussed for temperatures ranging from 31 0' to 560' c., pressures from 0 to 150 p.s.i.g.,oxygen-hydrocarbon molar ratios of 0.05 to 0.6, and contact times from 1 to 28 seconds, using air or oxygen as the oxidant.