Synthesis and structure of a biomimetic model of the iron hydrogenase active site covalently linked to a ruthenium photosensitizer

First synthetic steps towards light-driven hydrogen production have been achieved by covalently linking a [RuII(terpy)2] (terpy=2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine) photosensitizer to a biomimetic model of the iron hydrogenase active site (see picture). The IR data show that there is little electronic communication between the redox-active metal centers in the ground state.