Room‐Temperature CH Bond Activation of Methane by Bare [P₄O₁₀]^.+

Abstract No need for a metal : A combination of mass spectrometry and computational studies (density functional theory and coupled‐cluster methods) shows that [P 4 O 10 ] .+ is the first polynuclear nonmetal oxide cation that is capable of activating the CH bond of methane at room temperature (see picture). This process represents a further example in the reactivity of oxygen‐centered radicals. magnified image