Electrochemical Proton Reduction Catalyzed by [Fe2(CO)6(μ-(TeCH2Te))] Model that Mimics the Structure of the Active Site of [FeFe]-Hydrogenase

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/zaac.201800070

In this report we discuss the synthesis of [Fe₂(CO)₆(μ-(TeCH₂Te))] (2) using Fe₃(CO)₁₂ and Me₂Sn(CH₂I)₂ in the presence of potassium tellurocyanate, freshly prepared. The resulting complex was characterized by different spectroscopic methods (¹H, ¹³C(¹H) and ¹²⁵Te(¹H) NMR) as well as X-ray diffraction analysis. Moreover, we investigate the redox properties and the catalytic behavior of 2 in the presence of weak and moderate acids, acetic acid (AcOH) and trifluoracetic acid (TFA), respectively, as a source of protons.