The active site model for iron-only hydrogenases coordinatively bonded to a metalloporphyrin photosensitizer

Treatment of the parent model [(mu-SCH2)(2)NH]Fe-2(CO)(6) (1) with 4-pyridinecarboxylic acid chloride or benzoyl chloride in the presence of Et3N afforded the simple model compounds [(mu-SCH2)(2)NC(O)C5H4N]Fe-2(CO)(6) (2) and [(mu-SCH2)(2)NC(O)Ph]Fe-2(CO)(6) (4). Further treatment of 2 with the photosensitizer zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) produced the target model compound [(mu-SCH2)(2)NC(O)C5H4N]Fe-2(CO)(6)(ZnTPP) (3), which is the first metalloporphyrin-containing active site model for the Fe-only hydrogenases.