Systems and methods are provided for direct methane conversion to methanol. The methods can include exposing methane to an oxidant, such as O.sub.2, in a solvent at conditions that are substantially supercritical for the solvent while having a temperature of about 310 C. or less, or about 300 C. or less, or about 290 C. or less. The solvent can correspond to an electron donor solvent that, when in a supercritical state, can complex with O.sub.2. By forming a complex with the O.sub.2, the supercritical electron donor solvent can facilitate conversion of methane to methanol at short residence times while reducing or minimizing further oxidation of the methanol to other products.

Systems and methods are provided for direct methane conversion to methanol. The methods can include exposing methane to an oxidant, such as O.sub.2, in a solvent at conditions that are substantially supercritical for the solvent while having a temperature of about 310 C. or less, or about 300 C. or less, or about 290 C. or less. The solvent can correspond to an electron donor solvent that, when in a supercritical state, can complex with O.sub.2. By forming a complex with the O.sub.2, the supercritical electron donor solvent can facilitate conversion of methane to methanol at short residence times while reducing or minimizing further oxidation of the methanol to other products.

A method for the oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes including providing a mixture of a C.sub.1-9-alkane in a liquid phase, a boron containing reagent, a free radical initiator, and a drying means, and performing an oxidation reaction at a temperature from 130 C. to 180 C. in the presence of oxygen. The drying means may be a drying agent such as a molecular sieve, or a membrane. Also a composition for oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes to sec-C.sub.1-9-alcohols.

A method for the oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes including providing a mixture of a C.sub.1-9-alkane in a liquid phase, a boron containing reagent, a free radical initiator, and a drying means, and performing an oxidation reaction at a temperature from 130 C. to 180 C. in the presence of oxygen. The drying means may be a drying agent such as a molecular sieve, or a membrane. Also a composition for oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes to sec-C.sub.1-9-alcohols.

A method for the oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes including providing a mixture of a C.sub.1-9-alkane in a liquid phase, a boron containing reagent, a free radical initiator, and a drying means, and performing an oxidation reaction at a temperature from 130 C. to 180 C. in the presence of oxygen. The drying means may be a drying agent such as a molecular sieve, or a membrane. Also a composition for oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes to sec-C.sub.1-9-alcohols.

Systems and methods are provided for direct methane conversion to methanol. The methods can include exposing methane to an oxidant, such as O.sub.2, in a solvent at conditions that are substantially supercritical for the solvent while having a temperature of about 310 C. or less, or about 300 C. or less, or about 290 C. or less. The solvent can correspond to an electron donor solvent that, when in a supercritical state, can complex with O.sub.2. By forming a complex with the O.sub.2, the supercritical electron donor solvent can facilitate conversion of methane to methanol at short residence times while reducing or minimizing further oxidation of the methanol to other products.

Systems and methods are provided for direct methane conversion to methanol. The methods can include exposing methane to an oxidant, such as O.sub.2, in a solvent at conditions that are substantially supercritical for the solvent while having a temperature of about 310 C. or less, or about 300 C. or less, or about 290 C. or less. The solvent can correspond to an electron donor solvent that, when in a supercritical state, can complex with O.sub.2. By forming a complex with the O.sub.2, the supercritical electron donor solvent can facilitate conversion of methane to methanol at short residence times while reducing or minimizing further oxidation of the methanol to other products.

A method for the oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes including providing a mixture of a C.sub.1-9-alkane in a liquid phase, a boron containing reagent, a free radical initiator, and a drying means, and performing an oxidation reaction at a temperature from 130 C. to 180 C. in the presence of oxygen. The drying means may be a drying agent such as a molecular sieve, or a membrane. Also a composition for oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes to sec-C.sub.1-9-alcohols.

A method for the oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes including providing a mixture of a C.sub.1-9-alkane in a liquid phase, a boron containing reagent, a free radical initiator, and a drying means, and performing an oxidation reaction at a temperature from 130 C. to 180 C. in the presence of oxygen. The drying means may be a drying agent such as a molecular sieve, or a membrane. Also a composition for oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes to sec-C.sub.1-9-alcohols.

Cyclododecanone (CDON) is prepared by epoxidizing cyclododecene (CDEN) to epoxycyclododecane (CDAN epoxide), and rearranging the CDAN epoxide to CDON to obtain a mixture comprising said CDON and cyclododecane (CDAN), wherein CDAN is separated from the CDON-containing mixture and oxidized to CDON.