explain why methane is not prepared by koblbe`s reaction

Kolbes synthesis is used for preparation of salicylic acid .hence methane cannot be prepared by this method.

When phenol is treated with sodium hydroxide, phenoxide ion is generated. The phenoxide ion generated is more reactive than phenol towards electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction. Hence it undergoes electrophilic substitution reaction with carbon dioxide which is a weak electrophile. Ortho hydroxybenzoic acid (salicylic acid) is formed as the major product. This reaction is popularly known as Kolbe’s reaction. It is named after the scientist Hermann Kolbe.