Upscaling of gaseous alkanes into large-volume commodity chemicals via photocatalytic acylation

From a circular economy point of view, the valorization of gaseous alkanes into large-volume commodity chemicals is of the utmost importance. Such protocols would help reduce the current reliance on a petroleum-based economy and contribute to the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this regard, we hereby report a methodology based on dual photoredox/nickel catalysis that enables the direct coupling of gaseous alkanes with a range of acid chlorides. The protocol is operationally simple, proceeds under mild reaction conditions, and features high chemo- and regioselectivity and good functional group tolerance. Of note, this method serves as an efficient tool for the upscaling of feedstock gaseous alkanes into industrially relevant ketones, such as propiophenone, acetophenone, or isobutyrophenone derivatives.