Synthesis, crystal structure and electrochemical study of (μ-κ2C:κ2S-NHC+-CS)[Fe2(CO)6]− generated from the reaction of NHC+-CS2− with Fe3(CO)12

•NHC+-CS2− (1) and (μ-κ2C:κ2S-NHC+-CS)[Fe2(CO)6]− (2) have been synthesized.•They have been fully characterized by EA, IR and NMR.•They have been structurally determined by X-ray crystallography.•Electrochemical study on 2 reveals that complex 2 can catalyze H2 production.

Reaction of zwitterionic salt NHC+-CS2− (1), prepared from 1,3-diallylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene and CS2, with Fe3(CO)12 affords 2, (μ-κ2C:κ2S-NHC+-CS)[Fe2(CO)6]−. Two new compounds have been fully characterized by EA, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy and structurally determined by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical study of 2 has demonstrated that using HOAc as a proton source complex 2 can efficiently catalyze H2 production.

Graphical abstractNHC+-CS2− (1) and (μ-κ2C:κ2S-NHC+-CS)[Fe2(CO)6]− (2) have been synthesized and fully characterized by EA, IR and NMR. They have been structurally determined by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical study on 2 reveals that complex 2 can catalyze H2 production.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide