Investigation and Prediction of the Novel Properties of Dendrimers. Dendrimers are a new class of highly branched polymers, which have, until now, been difficult to characterise by conventional means. This project will develop and apply molecular simulation techniques to reveal the chemical and physical properties of dendrimers and their interactions with other molecules. These novel molecules potentially have beneficial applications to areas such as drug delivery and electronic materials. Th ....Investigation and Prediction of the Novel Properties of Dendrimers. Dendrimers are a new class of highly branched polymers, which have, until now, been difficult to characterise by conventional means. This project will develop and apply molecular simulation techniques to reveal the chemical and physical properties of dendrimers and their interactions with other molecules. These novel molecules potentially have beneficial applications to areas such as drug delivery and electronic materials. The outcome of this work will assist in the exploitation of this beneficial application and will provide the basis for efficient processing.Read moreRead less
Metal catalysed reactions in organic synthesis. The major aim of this project is to develop highly efficient metal-catalysed routes to pharmaceuticals, e.g. new antibiotics and other commercially important organic molecules.
Particular attention will be paid to developing systems which facilitate the addition of readily available, cheap small molecules, e.g. hydrogen and carbon monoxide, to unsaturated organic molecules with high regio- and stereoselectivity.
Worldwide demand for enantiomeric ....Metal catalysed reactions in organic synthesis. The major aim of this project is to develop highly efficient metal-catalysed routes to pharmaceuticals, e.g. new antibiotics and other commercially important organic molecules.
Particular attention will be paid to developing systems which facilitate the addition of readily available, cheap small molecules, e.g. hydrogen and carbon monoxide, to unsaturated organic molecules with high regio- and stereoselectivity.
Worldwide demand for enantiomerically pure chiral molecules (i.e. one mirror-image form) continues to rise. New metal-catalysed asymmetric syntheses will help meet this challenge. Tandem metal-catalysed reactions will be used to prepare new heterocyclic compounds with potential as specific metal binding agents and biosensors.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic and Methodology Based Total Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products. The proposal will study the synthesis of novel natural products that possess biological activities. Most significantly, this project will deliver compounds with anticancer activity. In addition, chemistry may be developed which could be utilised to synthesise a number of bioactive molecules. The rewards of the synthesis of compounds and application for the treatment of cancer and other diseases are enormous for the ....Biomimetic and Methodology Based Total Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products. The proposal will study the synthesis of novel natural products that possess biological activities. Most significantly, this project will deliver compounds with anticancer activity. In addition, chemistry may be developed which could be utilised to synthesise a number of bioactive molecules. The rewards of the synthesis of compounds and application for the treatment of cancer and other diseases are enormous for the community and in the education and training of scientists.Read moreRead less
Total Synthesis of Novel Metabolites form Microorganisms. The main aim of this proposal is to achieve the chemical synthesis of a number of biologically active novel natural products isolated from microorganisms. This will involve the development of new methods as well as improvement on exisiting approaches developed so far. The targets will include the myxobacteria metabolites crocacins A, B and D and apicularen A, the streptomyces metabolites reveromycin A and spirofungin A and the fungal meta ....Total Synthesis of Novel Metabolites form Microorganisms. The main aim of this proposal is to achieve the chemical synthesis of a number of biologically active novel natural products isolated from microorganisms. This will involve the development of new methods as well as improvement on exisiting approaches developed so far. The targets will include the myxobacteria metabolites crocacins A, B and D and apicularen A, the streptomyces metabolites reveromycin A and spirofungin A and the fungal metabolite zaragozic acid C.
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Synthesis of Bioactive Metabolites from Myxobacteria. The crocacins and apicularens are two diverse groups of biologically active molecules isolated from myxobacteria. Crocacins A-D are dipeptides which show antifungal activity and are highly cytostatic in mammalian cell cultures. The novel macrolide apicularen A is highly active against a number of human tumour cell lines and shows promise as a new type of anticancer compound. The aim of this project is develop a methodology to synthesise these ....Synthesis of Bioactive Metabolites from Myxobacteria. The crocacins and apicularens are two diverse groups of biologically active molecules isolated from myxobacteria. Crocacins A-D are dipeptides which show antifungal activity and are highly cytostatic in mammalian cell cultures. The novel macrolide apicularen A is highly active against a number of human tumour cell lines and shows promise as a new type of anticancer compound. The aim of this project is develop a methodology to synthesise these novel compounds.Read moreRead less
Free radical generation and reactions in ultrasound assisted processes. The project is designed to give a full quantitative physical and chemical account of the free radicals generated from the passage of ultrasound through a liquid. The study will be end-focused to produce advanced materials of potential use as catalysts in fuel cells and other materials that may be used in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Porphyrin-Based Supramolecular Assemblies and Arrays - Model Systems for the Construction of Photosynthetic Mimics. Crown ether-based multichromophoric systems will be used to mimic the steps through which plants convert light into chemical energy. The crown bridging units allow a variety of metal and organic cations, which provide electronic and structural roles, to be non-covalently bound within their cavities. These systems are advantageous over other photosynthetic models in that a variety ....Porphyrin-Based Supramolecular Assemblies and Arrays - Model Systems for the Construction of Photosynthetic Mimics. Crown ether-based multichromophoric systems will be used to mimic the steps through which plants convert light into chemical energy. The crown bridging units allow a variety of metal and organic cations, which provide electronic and structural roles, to be non-covalently bound within their cavities. These systems are advantageous over other photosynthetic models in that a variety of electron transfer mediators can be examined in a readily controlled and systematic way simply through the choice of cation. In this way, the role played by molecular recognition in the modulation of long-range electron transfer can be evaluated. This work will lead to designing better artificial solar energy converters and molecular electronic devices.Read moreRead less
Polynuclear Metal Complexes as Molecular Nanomagnets. Computer hard drives and other devices use tiny particles of magnetic materials to store digital information. Technological advances require an increase in the density of information storage and therefore even smaller magnetic particles. This project has the potential to synthesise materials where a single molecule could act as the smallest possible unit of magnetic memory. The future application of these materials may provide an increase ....Polynuclear Metal Complexes as Molecular Nanomagnets. Computer hard drives and other devices use tiny particles of magnetic materials to store digital information. Technological advances require an increase in the density of information storage and therefore even smaller magnetic particles. This project has the potential to synthesise materials where a single molecule could act as the smallest possible unit of magnetic memory. The future application of these materials may provide an increase of three orders of magnitude in information storage density. In addition, they may find employment in quantum computers, which can perform calculations exponentially faster than conventional computers.Read moreRead less
Gassing Mechanism and Stability of Foamed Explosive Emulsions. Mining of minerals such as coal involves crushing the surrounding rock strata, or the mineral ore itself, with emulsion explosives. One of the most important properties determining suitability of an emulsion explosive to a particular mining operation is its velocity of detonation, which can be adjusted by varying the number and size of air bubbles distributed in the emulsion matrix. The present project aims to develop new ways of g ....Gassing Mechanism and Stability of Foamed Explosive Emulsions. Mining of minerals such as coal involves crushing the surrounding rock strata, or the mineral ore itself, with emulsion explosives. One of the most important properties determining suitability of an emulsion explosive to a particular mining operation is its velocity of detonation, which can be adjusted by varying the number and size of air bubbles distributed in the emulsion matrix. The present project aims to develop new ways of generating air bubbles, to gain fundamental understanding of the foaming mechanism in currently used gassing techniques, and to invent ways to stabilise large bubbles within the emulsion. The project will provide scientific underpinning for the development of a new range of emulsion explosives manufactured by Orica for Australian and international markets, maintaining the Orica's position as a leader in the field of emulsion explosives.Read moreRead less
The Synthesis and Analysis of Certain Explosives and Illicit Drugs for Improved Forensic Detection. There is an increasing demand within law enforcement agencies, worldwide, for selective and sensitive methods for the determination of illicit substances. Over the last decade Deakin University chemists have played a major role in establishing the utility of chemiluminescent reactions for the determination of a variety of pharmaceutical opiates in process streams. This project seeks to build upon ....The Synthesis and Analysis of Certain Explosives and Illicit Drugs for Improved Forensic Detection. There is an increasing demand within law enforcement agencies, worldwide, for selective and sensitive methods for the determination of illicit substances. Over the last decade Deakin University chemists have played a major role in establishing the utility of chemiluminescent reactions for the determination of a variety of pharmaceutical opiates in process streams. This project seeks to build upon these successes, in order to develop innovative analytical strategies for forensic detection of certain illicit drugs and explosives. The results of this research have the potential to revolutionise key aspects of forensic analysis.Read moreRead less