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AssigneeCatalytica, Inc.
InventorsRoy A. Periana, Douglas J. Taube, Henry Taube, Eric R. Evitt
Estimating the term…
This invention is a process for converting lower alkanes into their corresponding esters and optionally into various intermediates (such as alcohols) and other liquid hydrocarbons. The alkanes are oxidatively converted to oxy-esters at high selectivity and conversion and at practical reaction rates using at least catalytic amounts of certain class "B" metals and/or metal ions defined by the Pearson definition as "soft" or "borderline". Desirable catalysts comprise such metals as Pd, Tl, Pt, Hg, and Au. If so desired, the alkyl oxy-esters may be converted to alcohols or other intermediates such as alkyl halides. The oxy-esters, alcohols, and other intermediates may optionally be converted to liquid hydrocarbons such as gasoline.
A process for converting one or more lower alkanes to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons comprising the steps of:
A process for esterifying one or more lower alkanes comprising the steps of:
In a process for the catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbonaceous feeds with an oxidizing agent to produce oxyesters or partially oxidized derivatives of the hydrocarbonaceous feed, the improvement wherein H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, SO.sub.3 or mixtures thereof are the oxidizing agent.
In a process for the catalytic oxidation of lower alkanes with an oxidizing agent to produce oxyesters or partially oxidized lower alkane derivatives, the improvement wherein H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, SO.sub.3 or mixtures thereof are the oxidizing agent.
In a process for the conversion of hydrocarbonaceous feeds to comparatively higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, wherein the hydrocarbonaceous feed is catalytically oxidized with an oxidizing agent to produce an oxy-ester and the oxy-ester so obtained is then reacted with a nucleophile to yield a functional intermediate followed by catalytic conversion of the functional intermediate to the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, the improvement wherein H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, SO.sub.3, or mixtures thereof are the oxidizing agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.