Reactivity Enhanced Low-Valent Alkaline Earth Metal Compounds. The project aims to develop highly activated low oxidation state alkaline earth metal complexes as cheap and sustainable alternatives to toxic/expensive late transition metal complexes, that currently dominate the transformation of inert small molecule substrates into value-added organic chemicals. The project expects to generate major fundamental and applied advances in chemistry, using innovative synthetic and computational approac ....Reactivity Enhanced Low-Valent Alkaline Earth Metal Compounds. The project aims to develop highly activated low oxidation state alkaline earth metal complexes as cheap and sustainable alternatives to toxic/expensive late transition metal complexes, that currently dominate the transformation of inert small molecule substrates into value-added organic chemicals. The project expects to generate major fundamental and applied advances in chemistry, using innovative synthetic and computational approaches, and a multidisciplinary collaborative team. Expected outcomes include building of academic and, later, industrial research capacity, knowledge, an international network, and a highly trained workforce. Success should see substantial economic, environmental and societal benefits flowing to Australia.Read moreRead less
Teaching Main Group Compounds to Activate Catalytically Relevant Bonds. The project aims to generate novel, earth abundant main group compounds, with the ultimate objective of developing these as sustainable replacements for toxic/expensive late transition metal complexes, that are currently central to numerous stoichiometric and catalytic synthetic transformations. The project expects to generate major fundamental and applied advances in chemistry, using innovative synthetic and computational a ....Teaching Main Group Compounds to Activate Catalytically Relevant Bonds. The project aims to generate novel, earth abundant main group compounds, with the ultimate objective of developing these as sustainable replacements for toxic/expensive late transition metal complexes, that are currently central to numerous stoichiometric and catalytic synthetic transformations. The project expects to generate major fundamental and applied advances in chemistry, using innovative synthetic and computational approaches, and a multidisciplinary collaborative team. Expected outcomes include building of academic and, later, industrial research capacity, knowledge, an international research network, and a highly trained workforce. Success should see substantial economic, environmental and societal benefits flowing to Australia.Read moreRead less
Converting Biomass into Value-Added Catalysts for Water Electrolysis. This project aims to employ agricultural waste to manufacture new highly active and stable non-precious metal catalysts for accelerating hydrogen production from water electrolysis. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the development of low-cost and sustainable catalysts for renewable hydrogen production and new technology for converting agricultural waste into value-added catalysts. The project outcomes are expec ....Converting Biomass into Value-Added Catalysts for Water Electrolysis. This project aims to employ agricultural waste to manufacture new highly active and stable non-precious metal catalysts for accelerating hydrogen production from water electrolysis. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the development of low-cost and sustainable catalysts for renewable hydrogen production and new technology for converting agricultural waste into value-added catalysts. The project outcomes are expected to benefit Australia by creating new commercial opportunities in ‘waste-to-catalyst’ conversion and generating a new pathway for managing and recycling agricultural waste, thus providing both environmental and economic benefits while contributing to a sustainable economy.Read moreRead less
Studies of Group 15 complexes of the Lanthanoids and Group 2 metals-An unexploited field of research. The project will initially explore new amido chemisty of the lanthanoids. This chemistry will develop towards complexes with lanthanoid-or Group 2-phosphorus, -arsenic, -antimony or -bismuth connectivities. This chemistry is surprisingly underdeveloped given the wealth of applications found for oxo and amido complexes of the same metals. Structural studies involving the complexes using cutting e ....Studies of Group 15 complexes of the Lanthanoids and Group 2 metals-An unexploited field of research. The project will initially explore new amido chemisty of the lanthanoids. This chemistry will develop towards complexes with lanthanoid-or Group 2-phosphorus, -arsenic, -antimony or -bismuth connectivities. This chemistry is surprisingly underdeveloped given the wealth of applications found for oxo and amido complexes of the same metals. Structural studies involving the complexes using cutting edge ligands will reveal interesting coordination modes. The discovery of new reaction pathways will be of interest to the wider chemical community. The chemical reactivity and potential catalytic or luminescent properties of these compounds will be studied and will result in publications in international journals.Read moreRead less
Magnesium(I) complexes: Potent workhorse reagents. This project aims to install magnesium(I) compounds as powerful and selective reagents to prepare metal-metal bonded compound classes that are otherwise inaccessible. These environmentally benign species will be viable alternatives to established systems, incorporating expensive and toxic metals, which are currently used for the stoichiometric/catalytic transformation of small molecules to value added products. The project is expected to cement ....Magnesium(I) complexes: Potent workhorse reagents. This project aims to install magnesium(I) compounds as powerful and selective reagents to prepare metal-metal bonded compound classes that are otherwise inaccessible. These environmentally benign species will be viable alternatives to established systems, incorporating expensive and toxic metals, which are currently used for the stoichiometric/catalytic transformation of small molecules to value added products. The project is expected to cement Australia's internationally leading role in the emerging field of low oxidation state s-block chemistry. The development and commercialisation of magnesium(I), and related compounds as reagents for the selective synthesis of value added products will provide significant economic benefits to fine chemicals industries.Read moreRead less
A new era for modern main group chemistry: from landmark molecules towards the replacement of transition metal based technologies. This project will develop innovative approaches to access fascinating chemical compounds that were previously thought incapable of existence. These highly reactive, yet non-toxic systems will be exploited as cheap, environmentally benign replacements for the expensive and toxic metal based chemicals that are currently used in numerous technologies.
New Frontiers in Molybdenum Chemistry: Electronic Structure and Molybdoenzyme Function. Molybdenum enzymes play key roles in biology and environmental, biogeochemical and meteorological processes. This international, multidisciplinary project will employ advanced synthetic, instrumental and theoretical techniques to establish the link between electronic structures and molybdenum enzyme behaviour and function. The insights gained will inform the continuing development of agricultural, veterinary ....New Frontiers in Molybdenum Chemistry: Electronic Structure and Molybdoenzyme Function. Molybdenum enzymes play key roles in biology and environmental, biogeochemical and meteorological processes. This international, multidisciplinary project will employ advanced synthetic, instrumental and theoretical techniques to establish the link between electronic structures and molybdenum enzyme behaviour and function. The insights gained will inform the continuing development of agricultural, veterinary and medical treatments for diseases associated with enzyme dysfunction; these outcomes would be of enormous economic and societal benefit to Australia. The training of skilled scientists, access to advanced overseas facilities, and international recognition of Australian research, are important immediate benefits of the project.Read moreRead less
Activation of small molecules using redox- and pH-stable polyoxometalate molecular clusters as catalysts. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide has been linked to global climate change, and several approaches to reducing emissions have been proposed. This project aims to develop systems that convert carbon dioxide into useful raw materials for the chemical industry and fuel, reducing the need to use additional non-renewable resources for these purposes.
Chemistry of the Transport of Nutrient Copper in Biological Cells. Nutrient trace metals such as copper are needed for enzymes by living organisms but are toxic in excess. Defects in copper metabolism cause Menkes and Wilson diseases in humans and there are direct connections to neurodegenerative diseases (eg, Alzheimer, Parkinson, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, motor neuron diseases). It is crucial to understand how healthy cells control toxic but essential copper so that enlightened intervention is possib ....Chemistry of the Transport of Nutrient Copper in Biological Cells. Nutrient trace metals such as copper are needed for enzymes by living organisms but are toxic in excess. Defects in copper metabolism cause Menkes and Wilson diseases in humans and there are direct connections to neurodegenerative diseases (eg, Alzheimer, Parkinson, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, motor neuron diseases). It is crucial to understand how healthy cells control toxic but essential copper so that enlightened intervention is possible when disturbances of copper metabolism become pathological. The chemistry of key molecules will be studied to reveal their essential properties and thereby to understand the molecular basis of the copper-linked diseases.Read moreRead less