Large-Scale Selective Functionalization of Alkanes

Great progress has been made in the past several decades concerning C–H bond functionalization. But despite many significant advances, a commercially viable large-scale process for selective alkane functionalization remains an unreached goal. Such conversions will require highly active, selective, and long-lived catalysts. In addition, essentially complete atom-economy will be required. Thus, any reagents used in transforming the alkanes must be almost free (e.g., O 2, H 2 O, N 2 ), or they should be incorporated into the desired large-scale product. Any side-products should be completely benign or have value as fuels (e.g., H 2 or other alkanes). Progress and promising leads toward the development of such systems involving primarily molecular transition metal catalysts are described.