Efficient conversion of methane to methanesulfonic acid via trifluoroacetylsulfuric acid

Abstract

For methane activation, various sulfonation systems using SO3 or H2SO4 have been well studied, however, sulfur dioxide (SO2), a preliminary source of SO3 and H2SO4, has not been used successfully. Herein, we report a novel methane sulfonation method to produce methanesulfonic acid (MSA) utilizing sulfur dioxide by a free radical mechanism. In the presence of H2O2 as a radical initiator, the reaction of SO2 and O2 in trifluoroacetic acid (TFAOH) furnished trifluoroacetylsulfuric acid (TFAOSO3H), which served as the radical propagator to facilitate H-abstraction of methane at low temperatures. In typical reactions, sulfur dioxide was incorporated into MSA in 75% with high selectivity at 60° C.

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