Iron Complexes as Models of [FeFe] Hydrogenases
A special issue of Inorganics (ISSN 2304-6740). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioinorganic Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026
Special Issue Editor
Interests: coordination, organometallic and bioorganometallic chemistry; biomimetism; bimetallic activation; hydrogenase and nitrogenase models; activation of small molecules; synthesis and reactivity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The determination of the structure of the active site of [FeFe] hydrogenases, the H cluster, marked the renaissance of rich sulfur-rich iron-carbonyl complex chemistry as models of the H cluster in the early 21st century. Indeed, this active site is the archetype of the expected functioning for the activation of small molecules beyond the reversible H+/H2 conversion. It involves molecular engineering that controls the availability of a coordination site, as well as electron and proton transfers necessary for activation processes through metal–ligand cooperativities, which involve redox and proton relay. This is why this sophisticated system, after more than two decades, remains a source of inspiration.
This Special Issue, "Iron complexes as models of [FeFe] hydrogenases”, aims to cover recent developments in the field of these bioinspired molecules, from their synthesis and characterization to their redox behavior and reactivity. It is also open to contributions on NiFe heterobimetallic complexes related to the [NiFe] hydrogenases.
I dedicate this Special Issue to Dr. Jean Talarmin, who passed away in April 2025, and who contributed over several decades to the understanding of electronic transfer processes in dinuclear systems such as those modeling the active site of [FeFe] hydrogenases.
Prof. Dr. Philippe Schollhammer
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- Iron complexes
- Proton and electron transfer
- Activation of small molecules
- Metal–ligand cooperativities
- Synthesis and reactivity
- Electrochemistry
- Catalytic activity
- Mechanism determination
- Structure-Reactivity Relationship
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