A Pyridinol Acyl Cofactor in the Active Site of [Fe]-hydrogenase Evidenced by the Reactivity of Model Complexes

The decomposition reaction of a water-soluble complex (see scheme; 1) in H2O confirms the existence of a unique bidentate pyridinol cofactor in [Fe]-hydrogenase. This unique moiety is confirmed for the first time by the decomposition of a well-defined model complex containing a pyridinyl methyl acyl ligand.