Peripheral nucleic bases boost H2 production by synthetic molecular catalysts in acidic water.

The strategic inclusion of nucleic bases adenine, cytosine, and thymine, in the form of outer coordination sphere, positively impacts the electro- and photocatalytic H2 production by cobaloxime cores. These cobaloxime derivatives showcased their optimal H2 production in acidic media due to specific protonation of adenine and cytosine below pH 5.0.