Combining acid–base, redox and substrate binding functionalities to give a complete model for the [FeFe]-hydrogenase

Combining acid–base, redox and substrate binding functionalities to give a complete model for the [FeFe]-hydrogenase:

Combining acid–base, redox and substrate binding functionalities to give a complete model for the [FeFe]-hydrogenase

Nature Chemistry.
doi:10.1038/nchem.1180

James M. Camara & Thomas B. Rauchfuss

The fastest catalysts in nature for producing and oxidizing hydrogen are [FeFe]-hydrogenases, which make use of an extra one-electron redox equivalent from an iron-sulfur cluster that is outside the core. Now, a ferrocene-based ligand that oxidizes at mild potential performs this cluster's role in an excellent synthetic hydrogenase model.