Natural Organometallic Catalytic Sites: H2-Activating Metalloenzymes

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The Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry, National Science Foundation, supports the work of Dr. Marcetta Darensbourg (Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M) directed at delineating structure/function relationships for Ni/Fe and Fe-only hydrogenase enzymes through the use of synthetic model systems. Specifically, the PI (i) will develop synthetic routes to amine-containing S--S bridges in iron carbonyl compounds, (ii) will use functionalized diphosphine ligands as "models of the models" for the hydrogenase active site, (iii) will explore the hydrogen activation chemistry of (-SR'S)Fe2(CO)6 compounds that possess a functionalized S--S bridge, and (iv) will explore the organometallic chemistry relevant to active site cluster synthesis for the hydrogenase enzyme.Students mentored by Prof. Darensbourg are poised to make a real and significant contribution to the scientific infrastructure of the country. Their work will have a lasting impact on both the biochemical and chemical communities. The results will help in initiating efforts to design a cheaper industrial process to produce hydrogen, a potential clean source of energy.