TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The steps of heating, contacting and conveying are performed continuously. The process further comprises: reacting a gaseous feed comprising lower molecular weight alkanes and the bromine vapor from the heating step to form at least alkyl bromides and hydrobromic acid; reacting the alkyl bromides in the presence of a catalyst to form at least hydrocarbons having at least 5C; and heating the gaseous feed at 150-600 degrees C prior to the step of reacting. The step of conveying the metal bromide in the reduced valence state from the first fluidized bed to the second fluidized bed comprise flowing the metal bromide in the reduced valence state from near the top of the first fluidized bed to near the bottom of the second fluidized bed. The flowing step is performed by gravity. The step of conveying the metal bromide in the oxidized valence state from the second fluidized bed to the first fluidized bed comprise flowing the metal bromide in the oxidized state from near the top of the second fluidized bed to near the bottom of the first fluidized bed. The gaseous feed is introduced into the first fluidized bed to heat at least a portion of the metal bromide in the oxidized state. The reacting step occurs in a vessel separate from the first fluidized bed. The process-II further comprises: contacting the metal bromide in the reduced valence state with bromine vapor to form the metal bromide in the oxidized valence state; and regenerating the catalyst by contacting the catalyst with an oxygen containing gas. The catalyst is in a bed and the step of regeneration occurs in situ. Preferred Components: The metal bromide in both the first and second fluidized bed was in a solid phase. The gaseous feed or gas comprises a recycled gas stream. The alkyl bromides comprise mono and multiple brominated species. The catalyst comprises a crystalline alumino-silicate catalyst or a zeolite catalyst. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.