Synthesis of a [3Fe2S] Cluster with Low Redox Potential from [2Fe2S] Hydrogenase Models: Electrochemical and Photochemical Generation of Hydrogen

In the attempted replacement of carbon monoxide by the bis(phosphane) dppv in a dinuclear [2Fe2S] complex, a trinuclear [3Fe2S] complex with two bis(phosphane) ligands was unexpectedly obtained. On protonation, this gave a bridged hydride complex with an unusually low potential for the reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen. The redox potential also appears sufficiently positive for direct electron transfer from an excited [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) sensitizer.