Catalytic functionalization of methane

A mixture of sodium vanadate and pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid (pcaH) efficien tly catalyses the reaction of methane with molecular oxygen (from air) and hydrogen peroxide to give methyl hydroperoxide and, as consecutive products , methanol and formaldehyde, The reaction takes place under mild conditions (25-75 degrees C) either in aqueous or in acetonitrile solution. The compl exes formed from the catalyst precursor and the co-catalyst (under the reac tion conditions) have been isolated and characterized as the derivatives [V O2(pca)(2)](-) (1) and [VO(O-2) (pca)(2)](-) (3). The implications of these species in the catalytic process are discussed. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wi ley & Sons, Ltd.