Abstract: for Processes for converting a methane or a methane containing natural gas to a monohalogenated methane and other downstream basic commodity chemicals going through methanesulfonyl halide as a key intermediate, whereby following its formation, the methanesulfonyl halide is allowed to decompose under a substantially anhydrous condition, preferably in the presence of a catalyst complex, and whereby in addition to the monohalogenated halide, a hydrogen halide and a sulfur dioxide are also formed in the overall conversion, both of which may be recycled back to the beginning of the processes. Additionally, compositions utilizing such a key intermediate for the same purposes are also disclosed.