Convincing evidence for the presence of a nitrogen atom in the dithiolate bridge of the active site of native [FeFe] hydrogenases (B) is provided by a spectroscopic, electrochemical, and theoretical study of a well‐characterized structural mimic of the [FeFe] hydrogenase subcluster (picture: 14N matched‐HYSCORE spectrum of the model compound A). This result should help to understand the mechanism of dihydrogen conversion and production.

How much iron does it take? Mononuclear complexes [FeII(3,6‐R2bdt)(CO)2(PMe3)2] (bdt=1,2‐C6H4(S−)2; R=H, Cl) can be reversibly protonated at the sulfur ligands, can catalyze the electrochemical reduction of protons, and are thus minimal functional models of the [FeFe] hydrogenases (see scheme). DFT calculations show that cleavage of an FeS bond leads to the generation of a free coordination site, which is crucial for the formation of hydrides that are key intermediates in the generation of hydrogen.

Hydrogen is being considered as a versatile alternative fuel with the ever increasing energy demand and oil prices. Hydrogenases (H2ases) found in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes are very efficient catalysts for biological hydrogen production. An important and unique hydrogenase enzyme is the [NiFe] H2ase, with an unusual heterobimetallic site. Since the determination of its crystal structure, a variety of complexes have been synthesised and studied. Bioinspired and biomimetic complexes have been investigated as potential catalysts. So far, of all the reported complexes only a few of them have been found to be catalytically active. Moreover, most of the reports are on the reverse reaction, e.g. proton reduction rather than dihydrogen oxidation. This perspective article therefore reviews the structural and functional aspects of the very recently reported model complexes that mimic the [NiFe] hydrogenase active site either in structure or function or both.

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