Title:<i>C</i>-Methylation of Organic Substrates: A Comprehensive Overview. Part I. Methane as a Methylating Agent
VOLUME: 17 ISSUE: 7
Author(s):Saad Moulay*
Affiliation:Laboratoire de Chimie-Physique Moleculaire et Macromoleculaire, Departement de Genie des Procedes, Faculte de Technologie, Universite Saad Dahlab de Blida, B. P. 270, Route de Soumaa, 09000, Blida
Keywords:Benzene, catalyst, methane, methylating agent, methylation, toluene.
Abstract:A literature survey on C-methylation of organic substrates with methane as a methylating
agent is analyzed. Of the substrates that undergo C-methylation are benzene, naphthalenes, toluene,
alkanes, alkenes, acetonitrile, and other functionalized organic compounds. None of these methylation
reactions occur in the absence of a catalyst. A direct introduction of a methyl group on the carbon
sites of a molecule is concomitant with the formation of other products, as a result of either a
possible rearrangement or a further reaction with methane. Mechanistically, the C-methylation with
methane proceeds oxidatively. The products selectivities depend on several factors, mainly on the acid/
base character of the solid catalyst.