Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

Disclosed is a methanol and sulfuric acid co-production system capable of producing methanol and sulfuric acid in equal equivalents. Specifically, the system includes an oxidation reaction unit configured to produce methyl bisulfate (CH.sub.3OSO.sub.3H) by reacting methane gas with an acid solution in the presence of a catalyst, a reactive distillation unit disposed downstream of the oxidation reaction unit and configured to esterify methyl bisulfate (CH.sub.3OSO.sub.3H) supplied from the oxidation reaction unit with trifluoroacetic acid (CF.sub.3COOH) to obtain a product and to separate the product into methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3COOCH.sub.3) and sulfuric acid (H.sub.2SO.sub.4) through thermal distillation, and a hydrolysis reaction unit disposed downstream of the reactive distillation unit and configured to produce methanol by hydrolyzing methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3COOCH.sub.3) supplied from the reactive distillation unit, in which the reactive distillation unit recirculates the sulfuric acid resulting from separation to the oxidation reaction unit.

Disclosed is a methanol and sulfuric acid co-production system capable of producing methanol and sulfuric acid in equal equivalents. Specifically, the system includes an oxidation reaction unit configured to produce methyl bisulfate (CH.sub.3OSO.sub.3H) by reacting methane gas with an acid solution in the presence of a catalyst, a reactive distillation unit disposed downstream of the oxidation reaction unit and configured to esterify methyl bisulfate (CH.sub.3OSO.sub.3H) supplied from the oxidation reaction unit with trifluoroacetic acid (CF.sub.3COOH) to obtain a product and to separate the product into methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3COOCH.sub.3) and sulfuric acid (H.sub.2SO.sub.4) through thermal distillation, and a hydrolysis reaction unit disposed downstream of the reactive distillation unit and configured to produce methanol by hydrolyzing methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3COOCH.sub.3) supplied from the reactive distillation unit, in which the reactive distillation unit recirculates the sulfuric acid resulting from separation to the oxidation reaction unit.

Provided is an oxidation reactor capable of oxidizing hydrocarbons with both reaction efficiency and energy efficiency. The oxidation reactor according to the present invention includes a liquid inlet channel, a gas inlet channel, a gas-liquid mixing unit, and a flow reactor. Through the liquid inlet channel, a liquid containing a reaction substrate hydrocarbon is introduced. Through the gas inlet channel, a gas containing oxygen and ozone is introduced. The gas-liquid mixing unit mixes the liquid introduced from the liquid inlet channel with the gas introduced from the gas inlet channel. In the flow reactor, an oxidation catalyst is immobilized or packed. The gas-liquid mixing unit houses, in its channel, a mobile particle which is capable of rotating and/or moving to mix the liquid with the gas to thereby form a gas-liquid slug flow. The gas-liquid slug flow is introduced into the flow reactor.

Provided are methods and materials for the functionalization of a heteroalkane or arene using an oxidizing electrophile as a stoichiometric agent or catalyst. The reaction involves the replacement of a hydrogen atom on an sp3-hybridized carbon atom of the heteroalkane or of a hydrogen atom on an sp2-hybridized carbon atom of the arene. A main group element organometallic intermediate is formed that undergoes further conversion to a functionalized heteroalkane or arene.

Provided are methods and materials for the functionalization of a heteroalkane or arene using an oxidizing electrophile as a stoichiometric agent or catalyst. The reaction involves the replacement of a hydrogen atom on an sp3-hybridized carbon atom of the heteroalkane or of a hydrogen atom on an sp2-hybridized carbon atom of the arene. A main group element organometallic intermediate is formed that undergoes further conversion to a functionalized heteroalkane or arene.

The present invention concerns a method of oxidizing a cycloalkane to form a product mixture containing a corresponding alcohol and ketone, said method comprising contacting a cycloalkane with an oxidant agent in the presence of catalytic effective amount of metal triflates or metal triflimidates catalysts.

The present invention concerns a method of oxidizing a cycloalkane to form a product mixture containing a corresponding alcohol and ketone, said method comprising contacting a cycloalkane with an oxidant agent in the presence of catalytic effective amount of metal triflates or metal triflimidates catalysts.

The present invention concerns a method of oxidizing a cycloalkane to form a product mixture containing a corresponding alcohol and ketone, said method comprising contacting a cycloalkane with an oxidant agent in the presence of catalytic effective amount of metal triflates or metal triflimidates catalysts.