Thermal methane activation by La(6)O(10)(-) cluster anions

Jing-Heng Meng1, Xiao-Jiao Deng, Zi-Yu Li

  • 1Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongguancun North First Street 2, Beijing, 100190 (P.R. China), Fax: (+86) 10-62559373; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 (P.R. China).

Summary

Researchers discovered a novel metal oxide cluster anion, La6O10(-), capable of activating methane at room temperature. This breakthrough utilizes an oxygen-centered radical and a hydrogen atom transfer mechanism for efficient methane conversion.

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