Abstract: Platinum(II) complexes and the use of these complexes for oxidation of methane to methyl sulfate are disclosed, the catalyst having, as ligands, a network based on aromatic N-heterocycles which has at least 2 coordinative nitrogen atoms per platinum atom, and the complex anion is selected from a halide, hydrogensulfate, hydrogensulfite, sulfate, sulfite, methylsulfate, methanol, water, hydroxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogencarbonate and carbonate. The catalyst enables a selective low-temperature oxidation of methane to methyl sulfate or methanol. The catalysts not only exhibit high activity, but can also be removed easily from the reaction mixture and reused over several runs without significant loss of activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing porous solids, which method comprises polymerizing, in a salt melt or a eutectic mixture of salt melt containing at least one Lewis acidic salt, cyano monomers having at least one or at least two cyano groups in their molecule, wherein the at least one or at least two cyano groups are bonded to a rigid linking group in the cyano monomer, as well as to the porous solids obtainable by that method. Owing to their porosity and the associated extremely high specific surface area, the porous solids are useful as sorbents, filtering and insulating materials, as well as catalyst carriers.