This project deals with the improvement and further development of catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane to higher hydrocarbons, particularly ethylene, C₃- and C₄-hydrocarbons. Supported PbO catalyst previously described in the literature were improved by using basic support materials and by adding suitable promoters, leading to high selectivities paralleled by a high activity, both being not significantly affected by operation time. A remarkable improvement concerning selectivity, activity and deactivation behaviour was further achieved by introducing basic catalysts containing alkali and alkaline earth compounds.