Facile Ozonation of Light Alkanes to Oxygenates with High Atom Economy in Tunable Condensed Phase at Ambient Temperature

Abstract

We have demonstrated the oxidation of mixed alkanes (propane, nbutane, and isobutane) by ozone in a condensed phase at ambient temperature and mild pressures (up to 1.3 MPa). Oxygenated products such as alcohols and ketones are formed with a combined molar selectivity of >90%. The ozone and dioxygen partial pressures are controlled such that the gas phase is always outside the flammability envelope. Because the alkane−ozone reaction predominantly occurs in the condensed phase, we are able to harness the unique tunability of ozone concentrations in hydrocarbon-rich liquid phases for facile activation of the light alkanes while also avoiding over-oxidation of the products. Further, adding isobutane and water to the mixed alkane feed significantly enhances ozone utilization and the oxygenate yields. The ability to tune the composition of the condensed media by incorporating liquid additives to direct selectivity is a key to achieving high carbon atom economy, which cannot be achieved in gas-phase ozonations. Even in the liquid phase, without added isobutane and water, combustion products dominate during neat propane ozonation, with CO 2 selectivity being >60%. In contrast, ozonation of a propane+isobutane+water mixture suppresses CO 2 formation to 15% and nearly doubles the yield of isopropanol. A kinetic model based on the formation of a hydrotrioxide intermediate can adequately explain the yields of the observed isobutane ozonation products. Estimated rate constants for the formation of oxygenates suggest that the demonstrated concept has promise for facile and atom-economic conversion of natural gas liquids to valuable oxygenates and broader applications associated with C−H functionalization.

Net Zero Transition: Possible Implications for Catalysis

“…The availability of green oxygen and renewable electricity can also spur the production of ondemand ozone as another inexpensive oxidant with potential uses in the facile activation of C−H and C−C bonds to produce chemical precursors from emerging feedstocks. 99,100 3.2. Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs).…”

“…Some of these systems could also benefit from the conversion of oxygen and hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide, which could be produced immediately upstream by using Au or PGM catalysts instead of using the anthraquinone process. , This approach could create a distributed source of hydrogen peroxide, which would save on the hazardous transport of high concentration hydrogen peroxide from centralized facilities. The availability of green oxygen and renewable electricity can also spur the production of on-demand ozone as another inexpensive oxidant with potential uses in the facile activation of C–H and C–C bonds to produce chemical precursors from emerging feedstocks. , …”