Bp Chemicals Limited

Olivier Maury

Jean-Marie Basset

Christophe Coperet

Jean Thivolle-Cazat

Barry Martin Maunders

Laurent Lefort

Guillaume Saggio

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing alkanes, comprising, as main stage, a reaction resulting from bringing methane into contact with at least one other starting alkane (A) in the presence of a catalyst based on a metal M capable of catalyzing a metathesis of alkanes. The reaction results in the formation of at least one or two final alkanes (B) having a number of carbon atoms less than or equal to that of the starting alkane (A) and at least equal to 2. Preferably the catalyst comprises a hydride of a metal M grafted to and dispersed over a solid support. The metal M may be chosen from transition metals, lanthanides and actinides. The present invention also relates to the use of a catalyst capable of catalyzing a metathesis of alkanes in 3 reaction resulting from bringing methane into contact with at least one other starting alkane (A).

Process for manufacturing alkanes with methane

A process for the manufacture of alkanes comprising a cross-metathesis reaction between at least one starting alkane (A) and one organometallic compound (B) fixed to an inorganic support and comprising a metal bonded to at least one hydrocarbon-comprising radical. The reaction leads to the formation of at least one other alkane (C) which is a higher or lower homologue of the starting alkane (A), by cleavage of the hydrocarbon-comprising radical with the metal of the organometallic compound (B) and recombination of the radical with at least one other radical originating from a cleavage of the starting alkane (A). The metal of the compound (B) preferably is selected from transition metals, lanthanides and actinides, and the hydrocarbon-comprising radical of the compound (B) preferably is selected from alkyl, alkylidene and alkylidyne radicals.

Process for manufacturing alkanes

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Rennes, France

Olivier Maury