Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Phosphines, Arsines, and Stibines. There are now chiral phosphine-transition metal catalysts that rival enzymes in their efficiency for the asymmetric synthesis of important chiral drugs, fragrants, cosmetics, nutrients, vitamins, and pesticides. This project is aimed at a generalised asymmetric synthesis of the critical components of these enzyme mimics, notably enantiopure chiral phosphines, but also chiral arsines and stibines, by a highly innovative approach t ....Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Phosphines, Arsines, and Stibines. There are now chiral phosphine-transition metal catalysts that rival enzymes in their efficiency for the asymmetric synthesis of important chiral drugs, fragrants, cosmetics, nutrients, vitamins, and pesticides. This project is aimed at a generalised asymmetric synthesis of the critical components of these enzyme mimics, notably enantiopure chiral phosphines, but also chiral arsines and stibines, by a highly innovative approach that involves novel six-electron phosphenium, arsenium, and stibinium cations that are themselves stabilised by chiral phosphines so that chemical breeder reactions are possible. The use of chiral auxiliaries from the natural pool and from biotechnology will also be investigated.Read moreRead less
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
Ditopic receptors for the cooperative binding of cations and anions. This project is concerned with the design, synthesis and investigation of new receptor molecules that are capable of simultaneously binding metal cations and anions in a cooperative fashion. The new systems are based on a macrocyclic platform which acts as the metal binding site together with side-arms incorporating functional groups that are designed to cooperatively interact with a suitable anion. Potential applications exist ....Ditopic receptors for the cooperative binding of cations and anions. This project is concerned with the design, synthesis and investigation of new receptor molecules that are capable of simultaneously binding metal cations and anions in a cooperative fashion. The new systems are based on a macrocyclic platform which acts as the metal binding site together with side-arms incorporating functional groups that are designed to cooperatively interact with a suitable anion. Potential applications exist for this category of ditopic receptors in mineral processing where the ability to extract a metal as its metal salt may lead to more efficient solvent extraction processes.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100263
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,536.00
Summary
Halogen Bonding for Assembly and Separation in Solution. The properties of substances we experience in our daily lives owe much to very weak interactions taking place between molecules. Consider a cup of coffee: very weak interactions hold the water together as a liquid, and result in the biological action of caffeine within the body. The project aims to develop new materials based on an underexplored class of weak interactions known as halogen bonds. These interactions will be used to assemble ....Halogen Bonding for Assembly and Separation in Solution. The properties of substances we experience in our daily lives owe much to very weak interactions taking place between molecules. Consider a cup of coffee: very weak interactions hold the water together as a liquid, and result in the biological action of caffeine within the body. The project aims to develop new materials based on an underexplored class of weak interactions known as halogen bonds. These interactions will be used to assemble large molecules in solution, probe the presence of pollutants in water, and to separate active and inactive forms of pharmaceuticals. The development of health and environmental applications in the course of this project aim to significantly enhance our fundamental understanding of these weak interactions.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.
In-situ solubility and speciation studies in super-critical H2O-NaCl-CO2 mixtures using synchrotron radiation. Understanding the physics and chemistry of metals in hypersaline and supercritical solutions represents a major scientific challenge with wide-ranging applications in the fields of mineral processing, economic geology, or CO2 sequestration. The advent of very bright sources of x-rays (synchrotrons) and development of spectroscopic cells that can contain corrosives samples at high pressu ....In-situ solubility and speciation studies in super-critical H2O-NaCl-CO2 mixtures using synchrotron radiation. Understanding the physics and chemistry of metals in hypersaline and supercritical solutions represents a major scientific challenge with wide-ranging applications in the fields of mineral processing, economic geology, or CO2 sequestration. The advent of very bright sources of x-rays (synchrotrons) and development of spectroscopic cells that can contain corrosives samples at high pressure and temperature allow for the first time the in-situ observation of these solutions. This project creates strong link between Australian and French scientists. By sharing the know-how developed at the European Synchrotron Research Facility, we aim to create a world-class facility at the Australian Synchrotron that will open in Melbourne in 2007.Read moreRead less
Directed assembly and photoelectric properties of core-shell nanowire networks of PbSe-TiO2 heterostructures for high efficiency low-cost solar cells. The proposed program is aimed at studying numerous fundamental properties and phenomena of photoelectrochemical cells that have an important impact on environmentally friendly solutions to energy problems. Specifically, solar cells have a significant role in energy markets and in lessening CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts. Solar cell ....Directed assembly and photoelectric properties of core-shell nanowire networks of PbSe-TiO2 heterostructures for high efficiency low-cost solar cells. The proposed program is aimed at studying numerous fundamental properties and phenomena of photoelectrochemical cells that have an important impact on environmentally friendly solutions to energy problems. Specifically, solar cells have a significant role in energy markets and in lessening CO2 emissions and other environmental impacts. Solar cell technology, coupled with renewable energy sources, has the potential to provide a long-term solution to the energy crisis and the global warming threat. In addition, the strong team to be assembled will reach a leading position in this area of cutting edge technology. The outcomes will benefit Australian industries.Read moreRead less
Quantum-chemical design of stereoregular polyphosphines for nanowires. In this project we will be designing and producing stereoregular polyphosphines that can self-assemble gold and silver complexes that mimic the molecular architectures of DNA and certain proteins. The longer gold complexes will behave as insulated nanowires, and are an exciting prospect for the development of nanotechnological devices. The shorter silver and gold complexes are expected to have significant antitumour propertie ....Quantum-chemical design of stereoregular polyphosphines for nanowires. In this project we will be designing and producing stereoregular polyphosphines that can self-assemble gold and silver complexes that mimic the molecular architectures of DNA and certain proteins. The longer gold complexes will behave as insulated nanowires, and are an exciting prospect for the development of nanotechnological devices. The shorter silver and gold complexes are expected to have significant antitumour properties. This project, which will use a unique theoretical-experimental approach to design the stereoregular polyphosphines, will enhance Australia's international scientific reputation, and will contribute to technological advancement in the national priority areas of nanotechnology and biotechnology.Read moreRead less