Room-temperature C-H bond activation of methane by bare [P(4)O(10)](*+).

No need for a metal: A combination of mass spectrometry and computational studies (density functional theory and coupled-cluster methods) shows that [P(4)O(10)](.+) is the first polynuclear nonmetal oxide cation that is capable of activating the C--H bond of methane at room temperature (see picture). This process represents a further example in the reactivity of oxygen-centered radicals.