Alkenes, unsaturated saturated carboxylic acids, saturated carboxylic
acids and their higher analogues are prepared cumulatively from
corresponding alkanes utilizing using a multi-staged catalyst system and
a multi-stage process which comprises steam cracking of alkanes to
corresponding alkenes at flame temperatures and at short contact times in
combination with one or more oxidation catalysts for catalytically
converting the corresponding alkenes to further corresponding oxygenated
products using short contact time reactor conditions.