Process for increased yields of oxygenated products in two-step oxidation of hydrocarbons

A method for converting alkylhydroperoxide to alcohol comprising the steps of:

• (a) drying a reaction mixture comprising alkylhydroperoxide, alkane and water, to obtain a dried reaction mixture in which water comprises approximately 1 weight percent or less of said dried reaction mixture;
• (b) decomposing said alkylhydroperoxide in said dried reaction mixture in the presence of a catalyst and said alkane such that
• (i) a first portion of said alkylhydroperoxide is decomposed to form oxygen and oxygenated hydrocarbons comprising alcohol, and
• (ii) a second portion of said alkylhydroperoxide is decomposed with concomitant oxidation of said unreacted alkane to form additional oxygenated hydrocarbons comprising alcohol.

A method for converting a feedstock comprising alkane and alkylhydroperoxide to alcohol comprising the steps of:

• (a) drying said feedstock to obtain a dried reaction mixture in which water comprises approximately 1 weight percent or less of said dried feedstock;
• (b) decomposing said alkylhydroperoxide in the presence of a catalyst to form a reaction mixture comprising oxygen and a mixture of oxygenated hydrocarbons comprising alcohol;
• and
• (c) concomitantly converting said alkane in the presence of said catalyst and said alkylhydroperoxide to produce additional oxidation products comprising alcohol;
• wherein production of alcohol is greater than 1 as a ratio of alcohol product to reacted alkylhydroperoxide.