Non-oxidative coupling of methane with high selectivity into ethane (>99% among hydrocarbon) in a classical fixed-bed reactor catalysed by SiO(2)-Al(2)O(3) or gamma-Al(2)O(3) supported tungsten hydride is presented. Continuous hydrogen separation, using a Pd-Ag membrane in a fixed-bed reactor, led to methane coupling far beyond the thermodynamic equilibrium conversion.

We report a selective direct conversion of n-butane into higher molecular weight alkanes (C 5+ ) by alkane metathesis reaction catalysed by silica-alumina supported tungsten or tantalum hydrides at moderate temperature and pressure. The product is unprecedented, asymmetrically distributed towards heavier alkanes.