Pennsylvania State University的Ayusman Sen教授于试验室中首次在低温下进行甲烷催化氧化成甲醇衍生物。Sen及其研究小组发现由过氧化氢和三氟乙酸酐反应生成的过氧化三氟乙酸可将甲烷氧化成甲基三氟乙酸酯。此反应用Pd(Ⅱ)离子进行催化。主要的产品容易水解成甲醇。 Sen等人的甲烷催化氧化方法在90℃和大气压下进行。三氟乙酸酐的存在除去反应中生成的水,避免了自发水解成甲醇。 Professor Ayusman Sen of Pennsylvania State University was the first to catalytically oxidize methane to a methanol derivative at low temperatures in a laboratory. Sen and his team found that the oxidation of methane to methyl trifluoroacetate by trifluoroacetic acid peroxide, which is formed by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and trifluoroacetic anhydride. This reaction is catalyzed by Pd (II) ions. The main product is easily hydrolyzed into methanol. Sen et al., Methane Catalytic Oxidation Process was conducted at 90 ° C and atmospheric pressure. The presence of trifluoroacetic anhydride removes the water formed during the reaction, avoiding the spontaneous hydrolysis to methanol.