A novel hybrid system for the direct oxidation of ethane to acetic and glycolic acids in aqueous medium

A combination of platinum(II) ion and metallic platinum is found to oxidise ethane to a mixture of acetic and glycolic acids in aqueous medium in the presence of oxygen; the platinum(II) ion is responsible for the initial C–H activation step leading eventually to the formation of ethanol and ethylene glycol, while metallic platinum catalyses the subsequent air oxidation of the alcohols to the corresponding acids.