Abstract: A process for functionalizing methane comprising:(a) reacting methane with a hydridoalkyl metal complex of the formula:CpIr[P(R.sub.1).sub.3 ]H(R.sub.2)wherein Cp represents a cyclopentadienyl or alkylcyclopentadienyl radical having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms;Ir represents an iridium atom;P represents a phosphorus atom;R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group;R.sub.2 represents an alkyl group having at least two carbon atoms; andH represents a hydrogen atom, in the presence of a liquid alkane R.sub.3 H having at least three carbon atoms to form a hydridomethyl complex of the formula:CpIr[P(R.sub.1).sub.3 ]HMewhere Me represents a methyl radical.(b) reacting said hydridomethyl complex with an organic halogenating agent such as a tetrahalomethane or a haloform of the formulas:CX'X"X'"X"" or CHX'X"X'";wherein X', X", X"', and X"" represent halogens selected from bromine, iodine and chlorine, to halomethyl complex of step (a) having the formula:CpIr[P(R.sub.1).sub.