Enzyme-inspired catalyst helps to convert methane into methanol

A catalyst with a hydrophobic cavity that contains an active iron centre has been developed to convert methane into methanol. It has a ‘catch-and-release’ mechanism whereby a hydrophobic methane molecule enters the cavity for oxidation and the resulting hydrophilic methanol molecule is released into the surrounding aqueous solution. A hydrophobic cavity around an iron centre catches methane molecules for oxidation.