Ag^II‐Mediated Electrocatalytic Ambient CH₄ Functionalization Inspired by HSAB Theory

Abstract

Although most class (b) transition metals have been studied in regard to CH4 activation, divalent silver (AgII), possibly owing to its reactive nature, is the only class (b) high‐valent transition metal center that is not yet reported to exhibit reactivities towards CH4 activation. We now report that electrochemically generated AgII metalloradical readily functionalizes CH4 into methyl bisulfate (CH3OSO3H) at ambient conditions in 98 % H2SO4. Mechanistic investigation experimentally unveils a low activation energy of 13.1 kcal mol−1, a high pseudo‐first‐order rate constant of CH4 activation up to 2.8×103 h−1 at room temperature and a CH4 pressure of 85 psi, and two competing reaction pathways preferable towards CH4 activation over solvent oxidation. Reaction kinetic data suggest a Faradaic efficiency exceeding 99 % beyond 180 psi CH4 at room temperature for potential chemical production from widely distributed natural gas resources with minimal infrastructure reliance.