BIOCATALYTIC, BIOMIMETIC AND SUPRABIOTIC OXIDATION OF ALKANES

摘要

Notwithstanding the plethora of investigations devoted to the subject an economically viable method for the partial oxidation of light alkanes to the corresponding alcohols and/or ketones (aldehydes) is not forthcoming. The quest for suprabiotic catalysis - of the Mars-van Krevelen type or otherwise -continues. Although it has not yet lived up to its 'great expectations' the redox molecular sieve approach is still worthy of further investigation because of the analogies to in vivo systems. Finally, a better understanding of the intricate mechanistic details of methane monooxygenase catalyzed oxidation of light alkanes could provide a sound basis for developing suprabiotic catalysts.