Photocatalytic hydrogen production from a noble metal free system based on a water soluble porphyrin derivative and a cobaloxime catalyst

A combination of noble-metal free components, a water soluble porphyrin photosensitizer zinc meso-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin chloride [ZnTMPyP4+]Cl-4 (1) with cobaloxime complex [Co-III(dmgH)(2)(py)Cl] (2) as a catalyst, creates an efficient system for photochemical hydrogen production acting under visible light with 280 TONs. This is the first example of a water soluble porphyrin acting as a photosensitizer for cobaloxime catalysed H-2 production.