Only a small number of water-soluble iron carbonyl type model compounds for the active centre in [Fe-only] hydrogenase are known, and these models are mainly prepared by substitution of one of the CO ligands. In this publication we present new water-soluble models for [Fe-only] hydrogenase that contain a peripherally bound sugar residue. Compounds were prepared in which the 1,3-disulfanyl-2-propyltetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside unit is coordinated to the iron carbonyl core through either a sulfur or a selenium bridgehead atom. Electrochemical results for both types of compounds reveal hydrogen gas evolution from acetic acid and water.