The present work highlights recent advances in elucidating the methane oxidation mechanism of inorganic Cu-ZSM-5 biomimic and in identifying the reactive intermediates that are involved. Such molecular understanding is important in view of upgrading abundantly available methane, but also to comprehend the working mechanism of genuine Cu-containing oxidation enzymes.
Keywords: C-H activation; Cu-ZSM-5; Dicopper(II) oxo; Dioxygen activation; Model complex; Selective methane oxidation; Zeolite.