Molecular electrocatalysts for the hydrogen production from iron based hydrogenases

The complex type [Fe2(CO)6(μ-SRS)] are structural analogue of the active site of iron hydrogenases constituted of a dinuclear entity and diatomic ligands CO and CN. The today knowledge on the electrocatalytic activity of some of these organometallic complexes towards the proton reduction in hydrogen1,2,3, makes possible the elaboration of bio inspired electrocatalysts. Studies must now be realized to better understand the reduction processes of the iron dinuclear complexes with and without acids. In this framework the authors synthesized series of complexes type [Fe2(CO)6-n Ln(μ-E-CH2-X-CH2-E)] (n=0,1 or 2; L=carbene N-heterocyclic; E=S or P(Ph); X= CH2, C6H4 or NR). (A.L.B.)