A Bioinspired Molybdenum Complex as a Catalyst for the Photo- and Electroreduction of Protons

A molybdenum-dithiolene-oxo complex was prepared as a model of some active sites of Mo/W-dependent enzymes. The ligand, a quinoxaline-pyran-fused dithiolene, mimics molybdopterin present in these active sites. For the first time, this type of complex was shown to be active as a catalyst for the photoreduction of protons with excellent turnover numbers (500) and good stability in aqueous/organic media and for the electroreduction of protons in acetonitrile with remarkable rate constants (1030 s(-1) at -1.3 V versus Ag/AgCl). DFT calculations provided insight into the catalytic cycle of the reaction, suggesting that the oxo ligand plays a key role in proton exchange. These results provide a basis to optimize this new class of H2 -evolving catalysts.