ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

An artificial [FeFe]-hydrogenase mimic with organic chromophore-linked thiolate bridges for the photochemical production of hydrogen

Shang Gao, Wei-Yi Zhang, Qian Duan, Qing-Cheng Liang, Da-Yong Jiang, Jian-Xun Zhao, and Jian-Hua Hou

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, People’s Republic of China

E-mail: custgaoshang@126.com

Abstract: An artificial [FeFe]-hydrogenase ([FeFe]-H₂ase) mimic 3II, consisting of dual organic chromophores covalently assembled to the [Fe₂S₂] active site, was constructed for light-driven hydrogen evolution. The structural conformation of synthetic photocatalyst was characterized crystallographically and spectroscopically. The photo-induced intramolecular electron transfer was evidently demonstrated by the combination of electrochemical, steady-state, and transient absorption spectroscopic studies. Finally, a remarkable activity was obtained in the present photocatalytic system, indicating the covalent incorporation of photosensitizer and catalytic center as a promising strategy to construct inexpensive, easily accessible [FeFe]-H₂ase model photocatalysts.

Keywords: Hydrogenase; Enzyme mimic; Photocatalysis; Intramolecular electron transfer; Hydrogen evolution

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-016-0049-8

Chemical Papers 71 (3) 617–625 (2017)