[Ph4P][CrO3(OH)] – a wonder molecule: its behaviour as a bifunctional autocatalyst in water-splitting for the perpetual generation of dihydrogen and a catalyst mimicking catalase function

An oxygen-rich chromium (VI) complex, Ph4P[CrO3(OH)], reduces water present in non-aqueous media, viz, acetonitrile or dichloromethane to dihydrogen fuel autocatalytically, while oxidising functionalized organic substrates. The same catalyst also shows a catalase like activity on H2O2 also in non-aqueous media.