Oxidative functionalization of alkanes under dioxygen in the presence of homogeneous noble metal catalysts

•Oxidative functionalization of alkanes catalyzed by noble metal complexes.•Mechanism of action for homogeneous catalysts and catalytic systems.•Designing catalytic systems involving the activation of alkanes and dioxygen.•Advantages and drawbacks of existing catalytic systems.•Gas-phase reactions in high-boiling solvents in the presence of immobilized catalysts.

Basic approaches to design of catalytic systems for homogeneous oxidative functionalization of alkanes in the presence of noble metals are overviewed. Special attention was given to catalytic systems for oxidation of C1–C4 alkanes with dioxygen as a green oxidant and to methods for dioxygen activation with reducing agents. The mechanisms of the relevant reactions are considered.

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