Novel [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Mimics: Unexpected Course of the Reaction of Ferrocenyl α-Thienyl Thioketone with Fe(CO).

The influence of the substitution pattern in ferrocenyl α-thienyl thioketone used as a proligand in complexation reactions with Fe(CO) was investigated. As a result, two new sulfur-iron complexes, considered [FeFe]-hydrogenase mimics, were obtained and characterized by spectroscopic techniques (H, C{H} NMR, IR, MS), as well as by elemental analysis and X-ray single crystal diffraction methods. The electrochemical properties of both complexes were studied and compared using cyclic voltammetry in the absence and in presence of acetic acid as a proton source. The performed measurements demonstrated that both complexes can catalyze the reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen H. Moreover, the obtained results showed that the presence of the ferrocene moiety at the backbone of the linker of both complexes improved the stability of the reduced species.