New reactivity from unusual main group compounds. This project will develop new, fundamentally important, yet unusual main group compounds and investigate their reactivity. The project will lead to important fundamental advance in main group chemistry and will form the basis for cheaper and cleaner future synthetic methodologies and technologies.
Borametallacycles: confluence of metallacycle and boracycle chemistries. Metallacycles are cyclic structures constructed from a transition metal and the first row elements, such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. They underpin numerous technological applications in catalysis and materials chemistry. Borametallacycles which include the missing element boron will be explored with a view to developing new materials with novel properties.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100524
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,574.00
Summary
Heterometallic iron-molybdenum complexes for nitrogen activation. This project aims to develop a range of bio-inspired, mixed metal iron-molybdenum complexes that are capable of activating molecular nitrogen, N2, at ambient pressure and temperature. The activation of atmospheric N2 is performed on a multi-million tonne scale each year and is key to a number of industrial processes. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of organometallic chemistry, specifically with regards to ....Heterometallic iron-molybdenum complexes for nitrogen activation. This project aims to develop a range of bio-inspired, mixed metal iron-molybdenum complexes that are capable of activating molecular nitrogen, N2, at ambient pressure and temperature. The activation of atmospheric N2 is performed on a multi-million tonne scale each year and is key to a number of industrial processes. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of organometallic chemistry, specifically with regards to molecular metal-metal bonding and subsequent reactivity towards the activation of N2. Expected outcomes include new and improved catalysts, which will provide significant financial benefits to industry, as well as benefiting the environment by reducing energy demand.Read moreRead less
Novel hydride complexes for chemical applications. Many main group elements are abundant, cheap, generally less harmful and sometimes even biocompatible compared with most other elements from the periodic table. This project will develop a range of fundamentally important well-defined molecular s-block metal and non-metal hydride complexes and investigate their chemistry and properties. These underdeveloped but emerging compound classes are of significant importance for chemical synthesis, hydro ....Novel hydride complexes for chemical applications. Many main group elements are abundant, cheap, generally less harmful and sometimes even biocompatible compared with most other elements from the periodic table. This project will develop a range of fundamentally important well-defined molecular s-block metal and non-metal hydride complexes and investigate their chemistry and properties. These underdeveloped but emerging compound classes are of significant importance for chemical synthesis, hydrogen storage and catalysis. The results emerging from this project will contribute towards the development of greener and more sustainable technologies.Read moreRead less
Boryl Pincers and Beyond: Taming Borometallic Chemistry. Industrial applications of coordination complexes in catalysis reduce energy input and environmental impact but almost exclusively involve classical donors such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. Boron, whilst prevalent and environmentally benign, is under-utilised in such applications, in part due to the high reactivity of the metal boron bond.
This research will seek to tame and then exploit the unique features of boron within p ....Boryl Pincers and Beyond: Taming Borometallic Chemistry. Industrial applications of coordination complexes in catalysis reduce energy input and environmental impact but almost exclusively involve classical donors such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. Boron, whilst prevalent and environmentally benign, is under-utilised in such applications, in part due to the high reactivity of the metal boron bond.
This research will seek to tame and then exploit the unique features of boron within pincer ligand frameworks in metal coordination complexes, with particular attention focusing on, but not limited to catalytic alkyne metathesis.Read moreRead less
Bimetallic carbidos: hard-wiring a single atom of carbon. This project aims to explore the design, synthesis, characterisation and applications of novel materials in which metals are bridged by a single carbon atom. Materials based on metals (M) separated by a single oxygen atom (O) underpin all manner of technologies from the pigments of antiquity to modern electronics. Electronic/magnetic communication across MOM bridges is thus extremely well understood. Materials with two metals bridged by o ....Bimetallic carbidos: hard-wiring a single atom of carbon. This project aims to explore the design, synthesis, characterisation and applications of novel materials in which metals are bridged by a single carbon atom. Materials based on metals (M) separated by a single oxygen atom (O) underpin all manner of technologies from the pigments of antiquity to modern electronics. Electronic/magnetic communication across MOM bridges is thus extremely well understood. Materials with two metals bridged by one carbon atom (MCM) are in contrast, rare and poorly understood. Developing synthetic routes to such materials will make it possible to map the diversity of chemical and electronic features against theoretical models in search of new materials with unique reactivities and properties for commercial exploitation.Read moreRead less
Heteroatomic organometallic molecular wires. This project aims to design strategies for the modular construction of heteroatomic molecular wires. Molecular wires are the smallest possible component for miniaturisation of electronic circuitry: metal atoms joined by a linear conducting chain of carbon atoms. This project addresses the synthetic challenge of designing strategies for the modular construction of unprecedented heteroatomic molecular wires. Unique electro-optical properties may be deve ....Heteroatomic organometallic molecular wires. This project aims to design strategies for the modular construction of heteroatomic molecular wires. Molecular wires are the smallest possible component for miniaturisation of electronic circuitry: metal atoms joined by a linear conducting chain of carbon atoms. This project addresses the synthetic challenge of designing strategies for the modular construction of unprecedented heteroatomic molecular wires. Unique electro-optical properties may be developed (for switching, sensing, data storage applications) for subsequent applications in molecular electronics industries. Electro-optical properties could be used in molecular electronics industries.Read moreRead less
3D printed microchemical devices and systems. This project aims to address the barriers faced by 3D printing in chemistry. 3D printing can create bespoke 3D structures within a fraction of time and cost compared to traditional fabrication. However, its scope in chemistry has been limited by the poor chemical robustness, biotoxicity and low resolution of the 3D printed components. Hence, this project will develop novel gold coating techniques and explore high-resolution 3D printing to overcome th ....3D printed microchemical devices and systems. This project aims to address the barriers faced by 3D printing in chemistry. 3D printing can create bespoke 3D structures within a fraction of time and cost compared to traditional fabrication. However, its scope in chemistry has been limited by the poor chemical robustness, biotoxicity and low resolution of the 3D printed components. Hence, this project will develop novel gold coating techniques and explore high-resolution 3D printing to overcome these challenges. The project should generate commercially significant products (analytical platforms), technology (gold coating) and patents. The developed systems and technologies will address Australian research challenges in advanced manufacturing and enable on-site environmental monitoring.Read moreRead less
Synthesis, Synergy and Sustainability: Development of active-metal reagents. The design and realisation of new and important molecules requires innovative and efficient methods. This project will create a new store of active-metal molecular tools for the selective, catalytic and atom efficient construction of a diverse library of phosphorus heterocyclic scaffolds and chemical feedstocks relevant to biological, medicinal, and materials chemistry, and the fine chemical industry. Parallel studies e ....Synthesis, Synergy and Sustainability: Development of active-metal reagents. The design and realisation of new and important molecules requires innovative and efficient methods. This project will create a new store of active-metal molecular tools for the selective, catalytic and atom efficient construction of a diverse library of phosphorus heterocyclic scaffolds and chemical feedstocks relevant to biological, medicinal, and materials chemistry, and the fine chemical industry. Parallel studies employing environmentally friendly and benign deep eutectic solvents will allow for replacement of traditional hazardous volatile organic solvents, putting the newly created active-metal reagents at the forefront of the necessary shift towards a more sustainable and 'green' polar organometallic chemistry. Read moreRead less
Molecular Group 2 Metal(I) complexes: from chemical landmarks to versatile reagents. This project aims to systematically expand an internationally acclaimed pilot study which led to the initiation of a completely new and breakthrough field of chemistry, namely that of Group 2 metal-metal bonded complexes. The high reactivity of these systems will lead to them finding wide ranging applications in synthesis and materials chemistry.