A molecular molybdenum-oxo catalyst for generating hydrogen from water

Hydrogen is as an attractive candidate for a clean, sustainable fuel, hence the continued search for efficient and inexpensive catalysts able to produce large quantities of hydrogen gas from water. Traditionally, such catalysts have involved H–H bond formation at a metal centre and show poor long-term stability, but Karunadasa et al. now show this chemistry can also occur at a reduced metal-oxo unit, leading to good long-term stability, a tolerance to impurities and turnover rates comparable to a hydrogenase enzyme on a per volume basis. The new catalyst is a molybdenum-oxo complex that is active without the need for additional acids or organic cosolvents.