Conversions of low molecular weight hydrocarbons to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons using a metal compound-containing catalyst

A process for the production of higher molecular weight hydrocarbons from lower molecular hydrocarbons is described comprising the steps of: (a) introducing into a reaction zone a lower molecular weight hydrocarbon-containing gas and contacting the gas in the zone with a metal compound-containing catalyst containing a carbide, nitride, boride or oxide of thorium under C2+ hydrocarbon synthesis conditions such that at least 15 mole percent of the lower molecular weight hydrocarbons in the gas are converted to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, the conditions including a temperature of greater than 10000C and a gas hourly space velocity of greater than 6000 hr-1; (b) withdrawing from the reaction zone a higher molecular weight hydrocarbon-containing stream