An Iron Carbonyl Pyridonate Complex Related to the Active Site of the [Fe]-Hydrogenase (Hmd)

A mononuclear iron bis(carbonyl) pyridonate complex (1), which exhibits several common structural features with the active site of the iron−sulfur cluster-free [Fe]- hydrogenase, was synthesized and characterized. Spectroscopic data of 1 suggests a 2+ oxidation state for the Fe ion in the [Fe]-hydrogenase. Complex 1 serves as a precursor to other hydrogenase models.