how can you convert methane to ethane?

Answer 1

I like the answer of controlled pyralysis. The best answer would be some sort of catalytic process with heat, because any synthetic organic approach is going to be messy.

Or, and this answer is stupid but here.

Burn the methane. Collect the CO2 gas and freeze it, to yield dry ice.

Add the dry ice to methyl magnesium bromide.

Now you have acetic acid. Esterify it with methanol. Reduce it with DIBALH and then with KOH/hydrazine (Wolf/Kisher). Then you'd have ethane.

Of course, MeMgBr is water sensitive and DIBALH is air and water sensitive.

So for all the money my idea would cost, you'd be better off buying it from a petroleum company.

Answer 2

Remove the M from Methane to get Ethane.

Answer 3

You need to functionalize the methane. Once you do that, you can build your molecule's backbone.

"What functional group" is probably best answered by thinking of a retrosynthesis or asking yourself, "what 2 carbon structure can be reduced to ethane?"

Since ethane is only 2 carbons, consider acetylene. :-)

Answer 4

Probably by controlled pyrolysis over a catalyst. You should end up with some hydrogen as well.
Cannot see the point really

2 CH4 ------- C2H6 + H2

Answer 5

i just cant remeber

Answer 6

hydrolysis? combustion? or..