Methane was found to be able to cleave metal-hydrocarbon sigma-bond in organometallic compounds (Ziegler-Natta catalysts) similarly to hydrogen. The reaction was called "alkanolysis", according to the analogy with hydrogenolysis, or metathesis of sigma - bond by methane. The discovery of the "alkanolysis" reaction allowed performing a reaction analogous to hydrogenation with methane involvement, which was called hydromethylation, yielding the products of methane addition to unsaturated compounds (ethylene, acetylene, carbon monoxide). The addition of methane to ethylene, acetylene, and carbon monoxide yields propane, propene, and acetic
aldehyde (or methyl ethyl ketone with ethylene involvement), respectively.