Natural Organometallic Catalytic Sites: H2-Activating Metalloenzymes

Texas A&M Research Foundation, College Station TX

Investigators

Abstract

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.