US Patent 7902417 Dual catalyst system for alkane metathesis

A method of converting at least one first alkane to a mixture of at least one low molecular weight alkane (optionally also including additional lower and/or higher molecular weight alkanes) and at least one high molecular weight alkane, comprising: reacting a first alkane in the presence of dual catalyst system comprising a first catalyst (i.e., a hydrogen transfer catalyst and preferably an iridium pincer complex catalyst) and a second catalyst (i.e., a metathesis catalyst) to produce a mixture of low and high molecular weight alkanes.