An existing chemistry for the selective oxidation of methane to methanol is the homogeneous platinum(II)-based Shilov system, but limiting its practical implementation is its use of platinum(IV) as the terminal stoichiometric oxidant. However, an examination of the Shilov cycle suggests that electrochemical regeneration of the Pt(IV) oxidant would allow for the system to be catalytic in platinum. We demonstrate that through judicious selection of applied electrical bias, Shilov-type hydroxylation of <i>p</i>-toluenesulfonic acid as a surrogate for methane can be electrocatalytically effected over a homogeneous Pt(II) catalyst at good Faradaic efficiency and without a co-catalyst.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of a surrogate for methane

2019 Spring National Meeting

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