Carboxylation of methane with CO or CO2 in aqueous solution catalysed by vanadium complexes

Reaction of methane with CO or CO2 in aqueous solution in the presence of O2 (catalysed by NaVO3) or H2O2 (catalysed by NaVO3–pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid) at 25–100 °C affords acetic acid and in some cases also methanol, methyl hydroperoxide and formaldehyde.