Question

How will you convert methane to the following?
A. Propane
B. Butane
C. Propyl Butanoate
D. Ethanoic acid
E. Ethanol

Answer 1

Hint: Methane has a chemical formula $C{H_4}$ (one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen). It is the simplest alkane and is known to be the main constituent of natural gas. The methane is a tetrahedral molecule and it is made up of bonds which are all equal and the bonds formed are between Carbon and hydrogen.

Complete step by step solution:
Let us discuss the conversion of methane to different compounds given in each option one by one:
1: Methane to Propane
Propane consists of three carbon atoms and methane consist of one. Propane is an odourless and colorless gas and is known to be an alkane. In this conversion there are a number of steps that allow this conversion to occur. These are:
\[
  C{H_4}\xrightarrow{{C{l_2}/hv}}C{H_3}Cl \\
  {\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_3}Cl\xrightarrow{{Na/ether}}C{H_3}C{H_3}{\text{ (Wurtz synthesis)}} \\
  {\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_3}C{H_3}\xrightarrow{{C{l_2}/hv}}C{H_3}C{H_2}Cl \\
  C{H_3}C{H_2}Cl\xrightarrow{{Li/ether}}C{H_3}C{H_2}Li \\
  C{H_3}C{H_2}Li\xrightarrow{{CuI}}{(C{H_3}C{H_2})_2}CuLi{\text{ (Corey - House synthesis)}} \\
  {(C{H_3}C{H_2})_2}CuLi{\text{ }} + C{H_3}Cl \to C{H_3}C{H_2}C{H_3} \\
 \]
2. Methane to Butane
Butane is known to have a faint petrol like smell and it is colorless gas. It is shipped in form of liquifies gas with it being under its vapor pressure.
$
  C{H_4}\xrightarrow{{C{l_2}/hv}}C{H_3}Cl \\
  C{H_3}Cl\xrightarrow{{Na/ether}}C{H_3}C{H_3}{\text{ (Wurtz synthesis)}} \\
  C{H_3}C{H_3}\xrightarrow{{C{l_2}/hv}}C{H_3}C{H_2}Cl \\
  C{H_3}C{H_2}Cl\xrightarrow{{Na/ether}}C{H_3}C{H_2}C{H_2}C{H_3}{\text{ (Wurtz synthesis)}} \\
$
$
  C{H_4}\xrightarrow{{C{l_2}/hv}}C{H_3}Cl \\
  C{H_3}Cl\xrightarrow{{Na/ether}}C{H_3}C{H_3}{\text{ (Wurtz synthesis)}} \\
  C{H_3}C{H_3}\xrightarrow{{C{l_2}/hv}}C{H_3}C{H_2}Cl \\
  C{H_3}C{H_2}Cl\xrightarrow{{Na/ether}}C{H_3}C{H_2}C{H_2}C{H_3}{\text{ (Wurtz synthesis)}} \\
$

3. Methane to Propyl Butanoate
Propyl Butanoate is an ester. When propane reacts with butanoic acid, this compound is made. Conversion to propane from methane has already been discussed in part 1.

4. Methane to Ethanoic acid
Ethanoic acid is also known as acetic acid and is one of the most important carboxylic acids. It is made by fermentation.
$
  C{H_4}\xrightarrow{{C{l_2}/hv}}C{H_3}Cl \\
  C{H_3}Cl\xrightarrow{{Mg/dry{\text{ ether}}}}C{H_3}MgCl \\
  C{H_3}MgCl\xrightarrow[{{H^ + }}]{{C{O_2}}}C{H_3}COOH{\text{ Grignard synthesis}} \\

$
5. Methane to ethanol
$
  C{H_4}\xrightarrow{{C{l_2}/hv}}C{H_3}Cl \\
  C{H_3}Cl\xrightarrow{{Na/ether}}C{H_3}C{H_3}{\text{ (Wurtz synthesis)}} \\
  C{H_3}C{H_3}\xrightarrow{{C{l_2}/hv}}C{H_3}C{H_2}Cl \\
  C{H_3}C{H_2}Cl\xrightarrow{{O{H^ - }}}C{H_3}C{H_2}OH{\text{ }} \\
$

Note: Methane is a difficult gas to control and it goes under various chemical reactions which include combustion, steam reforming to syngas and the process of halogenation. Methane can be used in various chemical processes in industry and it is often present in gas pipelines. It may be transported as a refrigerated liquid often called liquefied natural gas.