Mir, Ab QayoomAb QayoomMirDas, SrewashiSrewashiDasRai, SurabhiSurabhiRaiShah, Naseer AhmadNaseer AhmadShahMajumder, PiyaliPiyaliMajumderDutta, ArnabArnabDutta2025-09-042025-09-042023-06-012155-543510.1021/acscatal.3c013842-s2.0-85162854546http://repository.iitgn.ac.in/handle/IITG2025/29746In order to achieve a hydrogen-driven energy infrastructure that is carbon-neutral, it is imperative that there be a synthetic catalyst that is developed from a non-noble metal. The unique interplay between the abundant transition metal containing an active site and the surrounding protein-based outer coordination sphere (OCS) is the essence of the remarkable H2 production displayed by hydrogenase enzymes. Here, we report a series of biomimetic cobalt complexes [Co(dimethylglyoxime)2(Nnucleobase derivative)Cl] crafted by strategic incorporation of a nucleobase and its derivatives (adenine, adenosine, adenosine monophosphate and hypoxanthine) around a common template. The nucleoside- and nucleotide-appended complexes electrocatalyze H2 evolution from neutral aqueous solutions at a rapid rate (turnover frequencies of ~13 000 and ~12000 s-1, respectively) while operating at an overpotential of <400 mV. The intricate proton exchange network created between the different fractions of nucleobase derivatives is one of the prime reasons behind such fast and energy-efficient catalysis.en-USOuter coordination sphereHomogeneous H2 productionElectrocatalytic H2 productionPhotocatalytic H2 productionBioinspired catalyst designArticlehttps://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/18442pp. 8238-824619123456789/372WOS:001010237500001