Abstract
The synergism of the electronic properties of nickel and cobalt enables bimetallic NiCo complexes to process H(2). The nickel-cobalt hydride [(dppe)Ni(pdt)(H)CoCp*](+) ([1H](+) ) arising from protonation of the reduced state 1 was found to be an efficient electrocatalyst for H(2) evolution with Cl(2)CHCOOH, and the oxidized [Ni(ii)Co(iii)](2+) form is capable of activating H(2) to produce [1H](+) . The features of stereodynamics, acid-base properties, redox chemistry and reactivity of these bimetallic NiCo complexes in processing H(2) are potentially related to the active site of [NiFe]-H(2)ases.