A Nafion-based catalytic membrane was found to be active and highly selective for the partial oxidation of propane to the corresponding C-3 oxygenates under mild conditions (T-R, 80-110 degrees C; P-R, 140 kPa) in the presence of the Fe2+/H2O2 Fenton system. A reaction pathway accounting for the electrophilic hydroxylation of the C-H bond on the superacid sites and subsequent reaction of the activated propane molecule with primary reactive intermediates, generated from the Fe2+/H2O2 system, has been proposed.