Ni nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon（Ni@C-N） materials were prepared by ther-molysis of a Ni-containing metal-organic framework （Ni-MOF） under inert atmosphere. The as-synthesized Ni@C-N materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, N_2 adsorp-tion-desorption analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The MOF-derived Ni-based mate-rials were then examined as heterogeneous catalysts for the oxidation of alkanes under mild reac-tion conditions. The Ni@C-N composites displayed high activity and selectivity toward the oxidation of a variety of saturated C–H bonds, affording the corresponding oxidation products in good-to-excellent yields. Furthermore, the catalysts could be recycled and reused for at least four times without any significant loss in activity and selectivity under the investigated conditions.
