Reactions of CO₂ and ethane enable CO bond insertion for production of C3 oxygenates

Reacting CO₂ and ethane to synthesize value-added oxygenate molecules represents opportunities to simultaneously reduce CO₂ emissions and upgrade underutilized ethane in shale gas. Herein, we propose a strategy to produce C3 oxygenates using a tandem reactor. This strategy is achieved with a Fe₃Ni₁/CeO₂ catalyst (first reactor at 600–800 °C) for CO₂-assisted dehydrogenation and reforming of ethane to produce ethylene, CO, and H₂, and a RhCo_x/MCM-41 catalyst (second reactor at 200 °C) enabling CO insertion for the production of C3 oxygenates (propanal and 1-propanol) via the heterogeneous hydroformylation reaction at ambient pressure. In-situ characterization using synchrotron spectroscopies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the effect of Rh–Co bimetallic formation in facilitating the production of C3 oxygenates. The proposed strategy provides an opportunity for upgrading light alkanes in shale gas by reacting with CO₂ to produce aldehydes and alcohols.