LIGATED PLATINUM GROUP METAL CATALYST COMPLEX AND IMPROVED PROCESS FOR CATALYTICALLY CONVERTING ALKANES TO ESTERS AND DERIVATIVES THEREOF

摘要

This invention is an improved process for the selective oxidation of lower alkane starting materials (such as methane) into esters and, optionally, into various derivatives (such as methanol) in oxidizing acidic media using a stable platinum group metal ligand catalyst complex at elevated temperatures and refers to a class of novel platinum group metal ligand complexes employed bidiazine ligands, which are sufficiently stable in the oxidizing acidic media at elevated temperatures to be effective catalysts in the alkane conversion reaction.