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Author: Subject: Oxidation of light alkanes
frogfot
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[*] posted on 6-11-2004 at 14:21
Oxidation of light alkanes


Was thinking about some OTC sources of propanoic/butanoic alcohol/acid.. but only one I can by is propanoic acid from a cosmetics supplier..

Now the point of this thread is to find a practical method to oxidise cheap alkanes (propane/butane) to obtain abovementioned chems.
I found something interesting in a book about this subject, but there are no further references..
(from Comprehensive Org. Chem., The synthesis and reactions of org. compounds, vol 1)

"light alkanes (C1-C4) can be oxidised to alcohols by oxygen in acetonitrile at room temp. in presence of SnCl2; here methane is less reactive than ethane, propane or butane"

Any idea on how fast is this reaction? I thoat that this could be done with a big vessel with SnCl2/acetonitrile (possibly some cheaper solvent) and a bubbler that feeds a very diluted stream of propane/butane mix in air...
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