Can hydrocarbons undergo combustion without oxygen present?

Question

Most of us are familiar with the standard reaction of methane gas combustion:

$$\ce{CH4 + 2O2 -> CO2 + 2 H2O}$$

In standard combustion, oxygen is generally used as the oxidant. Would it be possible for hydrocarbons to undergo combustion using alternative oxidants? If so, under what conditions could this be reproduced?

For example, could we achieve anoxic combustion by replacing oxygen in the atmosphere with another highly electronegative element such as chlorine or fluorine? Or perhaps compounds in high oxidation states such as permanganate or dichromate under different pressure/temperature conditions such that they were gaseous?

Answer 1

They would certainly combust if meeting a worse adversary than oxygen. $\ce{ClF3}$ would oxidize them, with extreme certainty, rapidity and violence.

Here is a short excerpt from the Wikipedia article of $\ce{ClF3}$ which amused me:

It is, of course, extremely toxic, but that's the least of the problem. It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hypergolic that no ignition delay has ever been measured. It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water — with which it reacts explosively. It can be kept in some of the ordinary structural metals — steel, copper, aluminum, etc. — because of the formation of a thin film of insoluble metal fluoride which protects the bulk of the metal, just as the invisible coat of oxide on aluminum keeps it from burning up in the atmosphere. If, however, this coat is melted or scrubbed off, and has no chance to reform, the operator is confronted with the problem of coping with a metal-fluorine fire. For dealing with this situation, I have always recommended a good pair of running shoes.