The method disclosed herein relates to two stage catalytic processes for converting syngas to acetic acid, acrylic acid and/or propylene. More specifically, the method described and claimed herein relate to a method of producing acrylic acid and acetic acid comprising the steps of: a) providing a feedstream comprising syngas; b) contacting the feedstream with a first catalyst to produce a first product stream comprising C.sub.2-C.sub.3 olefins and/or C.sub.2-C.sub.3 paraffins; and c) contacting the first product stream with oxygen gas and a second catalyst, thereby producing a second product stream comprising acrylic acid and acetic acid, wherein there is no step for separating the components of the first product stream before the first product stream is contacted with the second catalyst.

The method disclosed herein relates to two stage catalytic processes for converting syngas to acetic acid, acrylic acid and/or propylene. More specifically, the method described and claimed herein relate to a method of producing acrylic acid and acetic acid comprising the steps of: a) providing a feedstream comprising syngas; b) contacting the feedstream with a first catalyst to produce a first product stream comprising C.sub.2-C.sub.3 olefins and/or C.sub.2-C.sub.3 paraffins; and c) contacting the first product stream with oxygen gas and a second catalyst, thereby producing a second product stream comprising acrylic acid and acetic acid, wherein there is no step for separating the components of the first product stream before the first product stream is contacted with the second catalyst.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and a supported transition metal catalystcontaining molybdenum, tungsten, or vanadiumare irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum, optionally in an oxidizing atmosphere, to form a reduced transition metal catalyst, followed by hydrolyzing the reduced transition metal catalyst to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and a supported transition metal catalystcontaining molybdenum, tungsten, or vanadiumare irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum, optionally in an oxidizing atmosphere, to form a reduced transition metal catalyst, followed by hydrolyzing the reduced transition metal catalyst to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and a supported transition metal catalystcontaining molybdenum, tungsten, or vanadiumare irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum, optionally in an oxidizing atmosphere, to form a reduced transition metal catalyst, followed by hydrolyzing the reduced transition metal catalyst to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound.