Unraveling reaction networks behind the catalytic oxidation of methane with H₂O₂ over a mixed-metal MIL-53(Al,Fe) MOF catalyst

Reaction paths underlying the catalytic oxidation of methane with H₂O₂ over an Fe containing MIL-53(Al) metal-organic framework were studied by periodic DFT calculations. Not only the activation of methane, but the full reaction network was considered, which includes the formation of the active site, the overoxidation of methane to CO₂ and the decomposition of H₂O₂ to H₂O and O₂. Calculations indicate that the activation barrier for the initial activation of the Fe sites upon reaction with H₂O₂ is comparable to that of the subsequent C-H activation and also of the reaction steps involved in the undesirable overoxidation processes. The pronounced selectivity of the oxidation reaction over MIL-53(Al,Fe) towards the target mono-oxygenated CH₃OH and CH₃OOH products is attributed to the limited coordination freedom of the Fe species encapsulated in the extended octahedral [AlO₆] structure-forming chains, which effectively prevents the direct overoxidation paths prior to product desorption from the active sites. Importantly, our computational analysis reveals that the active sites for the desired methane oxidation are able to much more efficiently promote the direct catalytic H₂O₂ decomposition reaction, rendering thus the current combination of the active site and the reactants undesirable for the prospective methane valorization process.