Heterobimetallic Coordination Complexes Containing Rare Earth and d-Block Ions. Rare earth compounds have major industrial applications such as MRI contrast agents and as catalysts within the rubber and petroleum industries. The fundamental knowledge ensuing from this project has the potential to produce new and advanced magnetic materials. Nanotechnological industries are being developed in Australia and this research will provide materials with the capacity to act as optical or electrical sw ....Heterobimetallic Coordination Complexes Containing Rare Earth and d-Block Ions. Rare earth compounds have major industrial applications such as MRI contrast agents and as catalysts within the rubber and petroleum industries. The fundamental knowledge ensuing from this project has the potential to produce new and advanced magnetic materials. Nanotechnological industries are being developed in Australia and this research will provide materials with the capacity to act as optical or electrical switches, magnetic storage devices or molecular sensors. This pioneering work will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of chemical research within the rapidly advancing field of magnetochemistry.Read moreRead less
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.
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
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.
Bulky Guanidinates for the Stabilisation of Reactive Low Oxidation State Metal Complexes. The proposed research will benefit Australia by creating a knowledge base in an internationally important area of chemistry. Through an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, the exploitation of technologies arising from the research programme will be explored. In addition to the academic community, these technologies will benefit hi-tech industries including pharmaceutical and fine chemicals concerns ....Bulky Guanidinates for the Stabilisation of Reactive Low Oxidation State Metal Complexes. The proposed research will benefit Australia by creating a knowledge base in an internationally important area of chemistry. Through an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, the exploitation of technologies arising from the research programme will be explored. In addition to the academic community, these technologies will benefit hi-tech industries including pharmaceutical and fine chemicals concerns which will gain from the application of the proposed compounds to chemical synthetic methodologies. Moreover, bio-inorganic chemists will have access to new classes of chemical compounds that could mimic the action of enzymes in nature.Read moreRead less
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
Gas Phase Studies to Catalyze a Better Understanding of Metal Reactivity. The proposed research will increase knowledge of fundamental questions related to the mechanisms of catalysis and metal ion reactivity. The insights gained will be an important addition to the knowledge base of our culture, both nationally and in the wider international context. We note that research into the behaviour and design of catalysts is a burgeoning field which reflects the great importance of this area in the int ....Gas Phase Studies to Catalyze a Better Understanding of Metal Reactivity. The proposed research will increase knowledge of fundamental questions related to the mechanisms of catalysis and metal ion reactivity. The insights gained will be an important addition to the knowledge base of our culture, both nationally and in the wider international context. We note that research into the behaviour and design of catalysts is a burgeoning field which reflects the great importance of this area in the international scientific community. Our proposal will add to fundamental knowledge and may also result in practical applications. More importantly, we will train and equip talented young people with a spectrum of skills which will make them well placed to meet the demand for highly skilled professional scientists.Read moreRead less
New approaches to bistable spin clusters. Future advances in data storage technology and other areas of electronics depend on the miniaturisation of the relevant components. The goal of this project is to create materials where individual molecules can be the units of magnetic memory for high density data storage or the switches in electronic devices. Fundamental research in these areas is being pursued vigourously overseas and Australian involvement through this project is important for the p ....New approaches to bistable spin clusters. Future advances in data storage technology and other areas of electronics depend on the miniaturisation of the relevant components. The goal of this project is to create materials where individual molecules can be the units of magnetic memory for high density data storage or the switches in electronic devices. Fundamental research in these areas is being pursued vigourously overseas and Australian involvement through this project is important for the possibility of local development of devices based on the new materials. The students and postdoctoral fellows involved in this work will receive world class training in the synthetic and physical techniques that underpin the emerging fields of molecular magnetism and molecular electronics.Read moreRead less
Copper Radiopharmaceuticals for Molecular Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease. The expected outcome of this research is to develop molecular agents to allow non-invasive diagnostic imaging of senile plaques associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease. This will contribute to a better understanding of the disease, assist in early diagnosis and help assess new intervention strategies. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and affects over 160,000 Australians. The imaging agent ma ....Copper Radiopharmaceuticals for Molecular Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease. The expected outcome of this research is to develop molecular agents to allow non-invasive diagnostic imaging of senile plaques associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease. This will contribute to a better understanding of the disease, assist in early diagnosis and help assess new intervention strategies. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and affects over 160,000 Australians. The imaging agent market is a niche biotechnology industry in which Australia already has an international presence. The proposed research will lead to innovations to ensure Australia remains internationally competitive in this area. This research has potential social and economic benefits for the nation.Read moreRead less
Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions. The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted coordination polymers with ....Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions. The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted coordination polymers with predetermined properties or functions would make possible diverse applications of great practical value; the project will contribute significantly to the basis for such capabilities leading to ?designer materials? of the future.Read moreRead less