Hydrogen evolution at liquid-liquid interfaces

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2009;48(28):5139-42. doi: 10.1002/anie.200901757.

Abstract

Blowing bubbles: Hydrogen evolution by proton reduction with [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Fe] occurs at a soft interface between water and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE). The reaction proceeds by proton transfer assisted by [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Fe] across the water-DCE interface with subsequent proton reduction in DCE. The interface essentially acts as a proton pump, allowing hydrogen evolution by directly using the aqueous proton.