Disclosed is a hydrocarbon conversion process in which an alkane component is catalytically converted in the presence of an oxygen or oxidizing component (i.e., oxidant). The hydrocarbon conversion process can be an oxidative coupling reaction, which refers to the catalytic conversion of alkane in the presence of oxidant to produce an olefin product, i.e., a composition containing C2+ olefin. Reverse-flow reactors can be used to carry out the oxidative coupling reaction.