Influence of an electron-deficient bridging o-carborane on the electronic properties of an [FeFe] hydrogenase active site model

The IR carbonyl stretching frequencies of [Fe-2(SRS)(CO)(6)] complexes correlate well with their first reduction potential; an [FeFe] hydrogenase model with a very mild reduction potential has been realized by using a strongly electron deficient carborane-dithiolate bridge.