(Invited) Bioelectrochemical Strategies for C-H Activation

Petroleum hydrocarbons are currently our major energy source and an important feedstock for the chemical industry. Beyond combustion, conversion of chemically inert hydrocarbons to more valuable chemicals is of considerable interest. However, two challenges hinder this conversion. One is the regioselective activation of inert carbon–hydrogen (C–H) bonds. The other is designing a pathway to realize this complicated conversion. This paper will discuss the use of alkane monoxygenases in bioelectrochemical systems for C-H activation, as well as enzyme cascades and hybrid catalytic cascades for the conversion of inert alkanes to complex organic molecules like imines with selectivity far beyond traditional homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts.