Fe K-edge HERFD XANES and VtC XES of Temperature Dependent sMMO Model Complexes

Current industry standards rely on a multi-step energy intensive process to convert methane into methanol, while soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) enzymes are capable of converting methane to methanol under aerobic conditions and ambient pressures and temperatures. The structure of the methane activating intermediate sMMO-Q has been intensely debated as being an open or closed ‘diamond’ core for decades. Efforts to understand the catalytic cycle of sMMO have led to an abundance of molecular mimics, including work on a complex capable of performing temperature dependent reversible O-O bond scission by Kodera et. al, which features a high spin diiron(IV) state. In light of recent work by our research group, such temperature dependent behavior is uniquely poised to help understand the structure of sMMO-Q. We propose to apply Fe K-edge HERFD XANES and VtC XES for the study of these molecular model complexes.