Aliphatic compound hydrogen, other elements can be bound to the carbon chain, the most common being oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and chlorine. The least complex aliphatic compound is methane (CH). Most aliphatic compounds are flammable, allowing the use of hydrocarbons as fuel, such as methane in Bunsen burners and as liquefied natural gas (LNG), and acetylene in welding. The most important aliphatic compounds are: Important examples of low-molecular aliphatic compounds can be found in the list below (sorted by the number of carbon-atoms): Aliphatic compound In organic chemistry, hydrocarbons (compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen) are divided into two classes: aromatic compounds and
Carbon–hydrogen bond activation by a rhodium complex. In the case of alkanes, exclusive terminal functionalization was observed. Later, ruthenium catalysts were discovered to have higher activity and functional group compatibility. Other borylation catalysts have also been developed, including iridium-based catalysts, which successfully activate C-H bonds with high compatibility. For more information, consult borylation. No applications have been commercialized for homogeneously catalyzed C-H activations. Naturally occurring methane is not utilized as a chemical feedstock, despite its abundance and low cost. Current technology makes prodigious use of methane by steam reforming to produce syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This syngas is then