Mechanistic study of the photo-generation of hydrogen by decamethylruthenocene

Detailed studies on hydrogen evolution by decamethylruthenocene ([Cp*2RuII]) highlighted that metallocenes are capable of photoreducing hydrogen without the need for an additional sensitizer. Electrochemical, gas chromatographic, and spectroscopic (UV/Vis, 1H and 13C NMR) measurements corroborated by DFT calculations indicated that the production of hydrogen occurs by a two‐step process. First, decamethylruthenocene hydride [Cp*2RuIV(H)]+ is formed in the presence of an organic acid. Subsequently, [Cp*2RuIV(H)]+ is reversibly reduced in a heterolytic reaction with one‐photon excitation leading to a first release of hydrogen. Thereafter, the resultant decamethylruthenocenium ion [Cp*2RuIII]+ is further reduced with a second release of hydrogen by deprotonation of a methyl group of [Cp*2RuIII]+. Experimental and computational data show spontaneous conversion of [Cp*2RuII] to [Cp*2RuIV(H)]+ in the presence of protons. Calculations highlight that the first reduction is endergonic (ΔG0=108 kJ mol−1) and needs an input of energy by light for the reaction to occur. The hydricity of the methyl protons of [Cp*2RuII] was also considered.