Synthetic Active Site Model of the [NiFeSe] Hydrogenase |
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| Authors: | Dr. Claire Wombwell Dr. Erwin Reisner |
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| Affiliation: | Christian Doppler Laboratory for Sustainable SynGas Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK) http://www‐reisner.ch.cam.ac.uk/ |
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| Abstract: | A dinuclear synthetic model of the [NiFeSe] hydrogenase active site and a structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical analysis of this complex is reported. [NiFe(‘S2Se2’)(CO)3] (H2‘S2Se2’=1,2‐bis(2‐thiabutyl‐3,3‐dimethyl‐4‐selenol)benzene) has been synthesized by reacting the nickel selenolate complex [Ni(‘S2Se2’)] with [Fe(CO)3bda] (bda=benzylideneacetone). X‐ray crystal structure analysis confirms that [NiFe(‘S2Se2’)(CO)3] mimics the key structural features of the enzyme active site, including a doubly bridged heterobimetallic nickel and iron center with a selenolate terminally coordinated to the nickel center. Comparison of [NiFe(‘S2Se2’)(CO)3] with the previously reported thiolate analogue [NiFe(‘S4’)(CO)3] (H2‘S4’=H2xbsms=1,2‐bis(4‐mercapto‐3,3‐dimethyl‐2‐thiabutyl)benzene) showed that the selenolate groups in [NiFe(‘S2Se2’)(CO)3] give lower carbonyl stretching frequencies in the IR spectrum. Electrochemical studies of [NiFe(‘S2Se2’)(CO)3] and [NiFe(‘S4’)(CO)3] demonstrated that both complexes do not operate as homogenous H2 evolution catalysts, but are precursors to a solid deposit on an electrode surface for H2 evolution catalysis in organic and aqueous solution. |
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| Keywords: | active sites enzyme models hydrogenase selenium structural models |
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