Methods for producing a methanol precursor, methanol, and a methyl ester from methane in high purities

A method for producing methanol, comprising the steps of:

• (a) preparing methyl bisulfate by mixing a catalyst with an acid solution comprising a sulfur-containing acid to provide a first mixture and supplying methane gas to the first mixture to prepare the methyl bisulfate;
• (b) preparing methyl trifluoroacetate (CF3CO2CH3) by adding trifluoroacetic acid (CF3CO2H) to the first mixture containing the methyl bisulfate to provide a second mixture and distilling the second mixture under heating to prepare, separate and purify the methyl trifluoroacetate (CF3CO2CH3);
• and
• (c) preparing methanol by adding water to the methyl trifluoroacetate (CF3CO2CH3) to produce the methanol.

A method for producing a methyl ester, comprising the steps of:

• (a) preparing methyl bisulfate by mixing a catalyst with an acid solution comprising a sulfur-containing acid to provide a first mixture and supplying methane gas to the first mixture to prepare the methyl bisulfate;
• (b) preparing methyl trifluoroacetate (CF3CO2CH3) by adding trifluoroacetic acid (CF3CO2H) to the first mixture including the methyl bisulfate to provide a second mixture and distilling the second mixture under heating to prepare, separate and purify the methyl trifluoroacetate (CF3CO2CH3);
• and
• (c) preparing a methyl ester represented by Formula 2 below by adding a carboxylic acid represented by Formula 1 below to the methyl trifluoroacetate (CF3CO2CH3):
• R1CO2H (1),
• where R1 is selected from C1-C10 alkyl groups,
• R1CO2CH3 (2),
• where R1 is as defined in Formula 1.