Nitrogen heterocyclic carbene containing pentacoordinate iron dicarbonyl as a [Fe]-hydrogenase active site model.

Abstract

A novel pentacoordinate mono iron dicarbonyl complex bearing a nitrogen heterocyclic carbene ligand was reported as a model of a [Fe]-hydrogenase active site, which exhibits interesting proton coupled CO binding reactivity, electro-catalytic proton reduction and catalytic transfer hydrogenation reactivity.