Group 13 Mixed Halide-Hydride and Rare Earth Complexes - New Selective Chiral Hydridic or Low Valent Reducing Agents. This project will make a landmark contribution to two areas of metallohydride chemistry. Both studies will utilise and develop metals that have traditionally been mined and exported from these shores while concurrently imported as value added products at vastly inflated cost. This research will identify knock-on applications in order to stem this financial bias. The new paths to ....Group 13 Mixed Halide-Hydride and Rare Earth Complexes - New Selective Chiral Hydridic or Low Valent Reducing Agents. This project will make a landmark contribution to two areas of metallohydride chemistry. Both studies will utilise and develop metals that have traditionally been mined and exported from these shores while concurrently imported as value added products at vastly inflated cost. This research will identify knock-on applications in order to stem this financial bias. The new paths to rare earth (= Ln) hydrides will have broad industrial appeal, particularly for new materials, where, like similar group 13 materials, they may be used in the deposition of Ln films or even as precursors to superconducting solids. It is anticipated industrial collaboration will ensue. Australia will be promoted as a developer and innovator of frontier technologies.Read moreRead less
Self-Assembly of Nanoscale Molecular Capsules. Nature uses the self-assembly of molecules for the construction of highly complex and functional structures. An understanding of this process will enable the design of new molecular systems, capable of application in areas that include medicine, electronics and communications. Such self-assembly will play a key role in the development of nanotechnology, a rapidly expanding field that is likely to become a major technology in the foreseeable future. ....Self-Assembly of Nanoscale Molecular Capsules. Nature uses the self-assembly of molecules for the construction of highly complex and functional structures. An understanding of this process will enable the design of new molecular systems, capable of application in areas that include medicine, electronics and communications. Such self-assembly will play a key role in the development of nanotechnology, a rapidly expanding field that is likely to become a major technology in the foreseeable future. It is of crucial importance for Australia to maintain cutting-edge research (and research training) in this area if the nation and its industries are to be active contributors to the coming revolution.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - Centre for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology. Free radical chemistry is of increasing importance in the manufacture of improved plastics, paints and related materials, in helping restrict oxidative processes that can lead to adverse human health and also to the degradation of important industrial materials. The research will contribute to promoting & maintaining good health by developing new methods for reducing the impacts of ageing as well as in the treatment ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Centre for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology. Free radical chemistry is of increasing importance in the manufacture of improved plastics, paints and related materials, in helping restrict oxidative processes that can lead to adverse human health and also to the degradation of important industrial materials. The research will contribute to promoting & maintaining good health by developing new methods for reducing the impacts of ageing as well as in the treatment of several life-threatening conditions such as stroke. Industrial applications include better surface coatings for preserving metals, and additives to improve the quality and shelf life of beer and wines.Read moreRead less
Control of the Enantiomeric Self-Resolution Process. The availability of enantiopure molecules is crucial in chemistry and medicine. Enantiomeric self-resolution on crystallisation provides pure left- and right-handed molecules from 1:1 mixtures of the two. It is the simplest and cheapest means of obtaining enantiopure molecules, but its occurrence in any given case cannot normally be
predicted. The understanding and control of the self-resolution process gained through this project will repre ....Control of the Enantiomeric Self-Resolution Process. The availability of enantiopure molecules is crucial in chemistry and medicine. Enantiomeric self-resolution on crystallisation provides pure left- and right-handed molecules from 1:1 mixtures of the two. It is the simplest and cheapest means of obtaining enantiopure molecules, but its occurrence in any given case cannot normally be
predicted. The understanding and control of the self-resolution process gained through this project will represent a major breakthrough in organic and pharmaceutical chemistry. This technological advance will make pure handed molecules available readily and cheaply, thereby allowing chemical, pharmaceutical and biological developments to be made by Australian industry.
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Metal Directed Assembly of New Discrete and Framework Supramolecular Systems. An important aspect of this project is the development of strategies for assembling molecules and metals into larger units - leading to novel compounds and materials for which unusual and potentially useful properties can be anticipated. These may include materials that act as catalysts for chemical reactions or absorb and store gases (such as hydrogen for use as a fuel). More generally, the area is one that will under ....Metal Directed Assembly of New Discrete and Framework Supramolecular Systems. An important aspect of this project is the development of strategies for assembling molecules and metals into larger units - leading to novel compounds and materials for which unusual and potentially useful properties can be anticipated. These may include materials that act as catalysts for chemical reactions or absorb and store gases (such as hydrogen for use as a fuel). More generally, the area is one that will underpin the 'bottom-up' approach (building tiny components from individual molecules and ions) in the rapidly expanding field of nanotechnology. Clearly, if Australia is to remain internationally competitive in such new technologies then an understanding of processes of the type outlined in this proposal will be essential.Read moreRead less
Disrupting Chemical Communication in Bacteria: A Novel and Effective Antimicrobial Strategy. Due to increased application of antibiotics for disease control, many pathogenic bacteria have developed resistance to existing antimicrobials. The infections associated with the resistant bacteria incur a high cost in terms of human health, well being and health care costs. Thus, there is a clear need to develop new antimicrobials that have a novel mechanism of action. The technology proposed here has ....Disrupting Chemical Communication in Bacteria: A Novel and Effective Antimicrobial Strategy. Due to increased application of antibiotics for disease control, many pathogenic bacteria have developed resistance to existing antimicrobials. The infections associated with the resistant bacteria incur a high cost in terms of human health, well being and health care costs. Thus, there is a clear need to develop new antimicrobials that have a novel mechanism of action. The technology proposed here has the potential to deliver enormous health and social welfare benefits to the Australian population as well as commercial benefits to Australian industry, through provision of new, locally produced technologies for the control of bacterial virulence.Read moreRead less
Natural Product-derived Proteomics Probes for Specific Detection of Protein Kinase C Activities. Better health care depends on how well diseases are understood and how accurately disease analysis and diagnosis can be carried out. This is not only important to disease treatment but also prevention. This project will first generate new compounds that could have improved therapeutic value in cancer treatment. In addition, these compounds will be further engineered to provide a new technology of ....Natural Product-derived Proteomics Probes for Specific Detection of Protein Kinase C Activities. Better health care depends on how well diseases are understood and how accurately disease analysis and diagnosis can be carried out. This is not only important to disease treatment but also prevention. This project will first generate new compounds that could have improved therapeutic value in cancer treatment. In addition, these compounds will be further engineered to provide a new technology of tracing the molecular signature of diseases such as cancer for early detection and better preventative care and treatment. This will create new economic advantage and contributes to the transformation of Australian health care industry.Read moreRead less
In-field sensors for the detection of illicit drugs. Presumptive field test kits for illicit drugs analysis are typically based on chemical spot tests that produce a coloured product. While relatively easy to apply, such test kits (containing wet chemicals) produce inconclusive colour changes lacking sensitivity, and selectivity requiring a subjective assessment by the examiner. Despite these limitations, these test kits are in widespread use and are routinely used. This study aims to develop s ....In-field sensors for the detection of illicit drugs. Presumptive field test kits for illicit drugs analysis are typically based on chemical spot tests that produce a coloured product. While relatively easy to apply, such test kits (containing wet chemicals) produce inconclusive colour changes lacking sensitivity, and selectivity requiring a subjective assessment by the examiner. Despite these limitations, these test kits are in widespread use and are routinely used. This study aims to develop specific in-field sensors for the detection and identification of illicit drugs. This would significantly enhance the ability of Forensic Services staff to confirm the identity of seized material. Increased specificity would provide valuable early advice to investigators regarding the nature of a seizure and would reduce the likelihood of false positive results. Increased sensitivity would permit the analysis of trace amounts of material from individuals or locations related to an illicit drug consignment.Read moreRead less
Metal Directed Assembly of New Supramolecular Systems. An important aspect of this project is the development of strategies for assembling molecules and metals into larger units - leading to novel compounds and materials for which unusual and potentially useful properties can be anticipated. These may include materials that act as catalysts for chemical reactions or absorb and store gases (such as hydrogen for use as a fuel). More generally, the area is one that will underpin the 'bottom-up' ap ....Metal Directed Assembly of New Supramolecular Systems. An important aspect of this project is the development of strategies for assembling molecules and metals into larger units - leading to novel compounds and materials for which unusual and potentially useful properties can be anticipated. These may include materials that act as catalysts for chemical reactions or absorb and store gases (such as hydrogen for use as a fuel). More generally, the area is one that will underpin the 'bottom-up' approach (building tiny components from individual molecules and ions) in the rapidly expanding field of nanotechnology. Clearly, if Australia is to remain internationally competitive in such new technologies then an understanding of processes of the type outlined in this proposal will be essential.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale Molecular Architectures - New Metallo Cages and Capsules. The design and synthesis of novel cage and capsule-like supermolecular structures will be undertaken, including rare examples of two large cage types - one designed to incorporate two adjacent metal ions in an extended (chiral) cavity while the other utilises macrocyclic metal complexes as the 'walls' of the cage. In the latter case metal variation makes possible the alteration of the electronic environment of a guest occupying ....Nanoscale Molecular Architectures - New Metallo Cages and Capsules. The design and synthesis of novel cage and capsule-like supermolecular structures will be undertaken, including rare examples of two large cage types - one designed to incorporate two adjacent metal ions in an extended (chiral) cavity while the other utilises macrocyclic metal complexes as the 'walls' of the cage. In the latter case metal variation makes possible the alteration of the electronic environment of a guest occupying the central cavity . A third (capsule-like) system is designed to 'open' and 'close' under pH control. The present studies hold promise for underpinning the future development of nano-scale molecular devices.
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