Question

convert ethane to methane??

Answer 1

Ethane is converted to ethyl chloride by hv (controlled yield of monochlorination is needed)

Ethyl chloride is converted to Ethanamine, by Nucleophilic substitution. Oxidise Ethanamine to ethanamide

Then Hoffman’s bromamide reaction yields a methanamine

Convert methanamine to methanol, and reduce it to Methane with Zinc dust

Voila, one Methane molecule at your service

————————————————OR———————-

Convert ethane to ethyl chloride, then to ethanol, by first step mentioned above

convert Ethane chloride to ethanol by Nucleophilic substitution

Oxidise alcohol to acid

Use Decarboxylation to get Methane