Beyond Oil and Gas: The Methanol Economy

Advanced Statistical Methods in Biometric Research.

Liquid hydrocarbon fuels play an essential part in the global energy chain, owing to their high energy density and easy transportability. Olefins play a similar role in the production of consumer goods. In a post-oil society, fuel and olefin production will rely on alternative carbon sources, such as biomass, coal, natural gas, and CO(2). The methanol-to-hydrocarbons (MTH) process is a key step in such routes, and can be tuned into production of gasoline-rich (methanol to gasoline; MTG) or olefin-rich (methanol to olefins; MTO) product mixtures by proper choice of catalyst and reaction conditions. This Review presents several commercial MTH projects that have recently been realized, and also fundamental research into the synthesis of microporous materials for the targeted variation of selectivity and lifetime of the catalysts.

Conversion of Methanol to Hydrocarbons: How Zeolite Cavity and Pore Size Controls Product Selectivity

Starting with coal, followed by petroleum oil and natural gas, the utilization of fossil fuels has allowed the fast and unprecedented development of human society. However, the burning of these resources in ever increasing pace is accompanied by large amounts of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, which are outpacing the natural carbon cycle, causing adverse global environmental changes, the full extent of which is still unclear. Even through fossil fuels are still abundant, they are nevertheless limited and will, in time, be depleted. Chemical recycling of CO2 to renewable fuels and materials, primarily methanol, offers a powerful alternative to tackle both issues, that is, global climate change and fossil fuel depletion. The energy needed for the reduction of CO2 can come from any renewable energy source such as solar and wind. Methanol, the simplest C1 liquid product that can be easily obtained from any carbon source, including biomass and CO2, has been proposed as a key component of such an anthropogenic carbon cycle in the framework of a “Methanol Economy”. Methanol itself is an excellent fuel for internal combustion engines, fuel cells, stoves, etc. It's dehydration product, dimethyl ether, is a diesel fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) substitute. Furthermore, methanol can be transformed to ethylene, propylene and most of the petrochemical products currently obtained from fossil fuels. The conversion of CO2 to methanol is discussed in detail in this review.

Recycling of carbon dioxide to methanol and derived products – closing the loop

Transition metal catalyzed oxidative functionalization of carbon-hydrogen bonds

A new, convenient, inexpensive alternative to iodotrimethylsilane reagent is explored. A mixture of chlorotrimethylsilane/sodium iodide in acetonitrile is found to be a better reagent than iodotrimethylsilane for the cleavage of esters, lactones, carbamates, and ethers. Cleavage of esters and lactones (10 examples) occurred somewhat slower with the present system than with iodotrimethylsilane. On the other hand, ethers (7 examples) cleaved much more readily with the present system. A feasible mechanism is proposed for this disparity. Carbamates (6 examples) also underwent facile cleavage to give the corresponding amines. The general applicability of the method has been shown using various types of substrates. The facile conversion of alcohols to iodides using the present method is also reported. Ccinversion of alcohols to iodides is much faster with chlorotrimethylsilane/sodium iodide than with iodotrimethylsilane, and iodides are formed in excellent yield.

Synthetic methods and reactions. 62. Transformations with chlorotrimethylsilane/sodium iodide, a convenient in situ iodotrimethylsilane reagent

Electrophilic reactions at single bonds. 20. Selective monohalogenation of methane over supported acidic or platinum metal catalysts and hydrolysis of methyl halides over .gamma.-alumina-supported metal oxide/hydroxide catalysts. A feasible path for the oxidative conversion of methane into methyl alcohol/dimethyl ether

Synthesis methods and reactions. 71. Chlorotrimethylsilane and tert-butyl dimethylsilyl chloride/lithium sulfide, mild and efficient silylating reagents

B. G. Balaram Gupta

Papers

Synthetic methods and reactions. 62. Transformations with chlorotrimethylsilane/sodium iodide, a convenient in situ iodotrimethylsilane reagent

Synthesis methods and reactions. 71. Chlorotrimethylsilane and tert-butyl dimethylsilyl chloride/lithium sulfide, mild and efficient silylating reagents

Synthetic methods and reactions 104. Silylations with in situ generated trimethylsilyl triflate reagent systems

Synthetic Methods and Reactions; 391. Phase Transfer Catalyst Promoted Halogenation of Alkenes with Hydrohalic Acid/Hydrogen Peroxide