Scientists use catalyst to convert methane into bioactive compounds

A research team at Spain’s Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS), led by Martín Fañanás, has developed a novel catalytic method to directly convert methane and other natural gas components into valuable chemical building blocks. This breakthrough enables the synthesis of bioactive compounds, demonstrated by the production of dimestrol—a non-steroidal estrogen used in hormone therapy—directly from methane for the first time. The method bypasses traditional challenges associated with methane’s chemical inertness and the generation of unwanted byproducts, offering a more sustainable and efficient route to pharmaceutical ingredients and industrial chemicals without relying on complex refinery processes. The key innovation lies in a supramolecular catalyst based on a tetrachloroferrate anion stabilized by collidinium cations, which precisely controls radical intermediates during the allylation reaction. This control prevents excessive chlorination side reactions that had previously limited yields and practical application. The catalyst operates under mild conditions, enhancing scalability and versatility across various natural