Selective Synthesis of Ethylbenzene and Styrene by Cross-Coupling Between Toluene and Methane over a Lithium-Promoted Y2O3-CaO Catalyst.

Isotope-labelling experiments have shown that toluene oxidative methylation using methane to form C8 hydrocarbons over a lithium promoted Y2O3–CaO catalyst involves a cross-coupling between the methyl and benzyl radicals on the surface.