Two-dimensional materials remain one of the hottest research fields for a few decades due to their emerging physical properties existing in a single atomic layer or a few atomic layers. After intensive research efforts, 2D materials started to find their applications in our daily life, such as in batteries, electronics, or even bulletproof vests. To turn on the functionalities of 2D materials, controlled synthesis of 2D materials is the first and most crucial step.

Radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) enzymes form a large superfamily with >700,000 unique gene sequences. These enzymes catalyze reductive cleavage of SAM to generate a highly reactive 5′-deoxyladenosyl radical and catalyze otherwise chemically challenging radical reactions. While a large number of reactions have been reported to be catalyzed by these enzymes, the molecular details of the mechanisms by which these enzymes control the formation and reactivities of free radical species remain largely unknown.