A furan-containing diiron azadithiolate hexacarbonyl complex with unusual lower catalytic proton reduction potential

A new biomimetic model of the active site of Fe-only hydrogenase [{(μ-SCH2)2N(2-C4H3O)}Fe2(CO)6] (6) was synthesized and characterized by IR, 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy. The butterfly based core structure was also confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The electrochemistry data indicated that the reductive potential at −1.13 V versus Fc/Fc+ by HClO4 is the lowest of that reported.