The Technology
Methods for selective functionalization of various alkanes and other aliphatic derivatives are usually highly energy-consuming processes (high temperatures and pressures, e.g. alkane cracking) or using expensive noble transition metal catalysts. They are also not general processes and are also low yielding.
High-yielding (75%) protocol to site-selectively functionalize unreactive primary CH bonds of linear alkanes can be achieved by an optimized 2 two-steps sequence – involving biotransformation to dehydrogenate an alkene, followed by an organometallic step for hydro-functionalization of the resulting alkene at the terminal position biocatalytic to dehydrogenate an alkane and organometallic step hydro-functionalization of the resulting alkene. Methods to achieve a large variety of terminal functional groups were shown.
Advantages
- Hydrophobicity.
- Cost effective intermediate materials.
- High yield.
- Environmentally friendly process.
Applications and Opportunities
- Intermediate materials for preparation of plastics, drugs, nano materials etc.
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