A protein scaffold enables hydrogen evolution for a Ni-bisdiphosphine complex.

An artificial metalloenzyme acting as a functional biomimic of hydrogenase enzymes was activated by assembly via covalent attachment of the molecular complex, [Ni(PNglycineP)2]2-, within a structured protein scaffold. Electrocatalytic H2 production was observed from pH 3.0 to 10.0 for the artificial enzyme, while no electrocatalytic activity was observed for similar [Ni(PNP)2]2+ systems.