Extraction of Electrons from H2 with a NiIRuI Catalyst

The mechanism of extraction of electrons from H2 catalyzed by hydrogenases has proven challenging to elucidate. Catalytic extraction of electrons from H2 has been achieved by use of a low-valent NiIRuI complex [NiI(μ-SR)2RuI(η6-C6Me6)]{(μ-SR)2 = N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis(2-mercaptoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine} as the active catalyst with evolution of H2 under ambient conditions. The electrons extracted from H2 have been used for a catalytic reduction of Cu2+ to Cu0 with the NiRu complexes.