Structural effects upon the durability of hydrogenase-inspired hydrogen-producing electrocatalysts: Variations in the (μ-edt)[Fe 2(CO)6] system

Abstract

Three variations of the common [FeFe]-Hydrogenase active site mimic μ-(SCH2CH2S)-Fe2(CO)6, 1, have been studied: μ-(SCH(CH3)CH2S)-Fe2(CO) 6, 2; μ-(SCH(CH3)CH(CH3)S)-Fe 2(CO)6, 3; and μ-(SCH2CH(CH 2OH)S)-Fe2(CO)6, 4. The electrochemistry of these four species is compared, indicating that 3 displays greater durability upon electrochemical cycling. This enhanced stability is ascribed to steric blockage of decomposition routes, rather than any change to the Fe 2S2 butterfly structure. Electrocatalysis using a weak acid (4-tert-butylphenol, pKa = 27.5 in acetonitrile) is observed for each catalyst with similar overpotential. The enhanced stability of the reduction products of 3 leads to a modest increase of the apparent catalytic rate. Compound 4 was tested for an enhancement of the rate of the acid deprotonation step; compound 4 failed to behave in such a manner, providing no improvement in electrochemical catalysis compared to the parent compound. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.