Microreactors for Organic Synthesis. Since the electronic revolution, miniaturisation has been the trend for devices from consumer electronics to scientific instruments. In this time very little has changed in the manner, or scale, that synthetic organic chemistry has been carried out even though advances in instrumentation mean that less compound is required for identification and analysis. This project aims to bridge the gap by developing recyclable miniaturised reaction vessels for the format ....Microreactors for Organic Synthesis. Since the electronic revolution, miniaturisation has been the trend for devices from consumer electronics to scientific instruments. In this time very little has changed in the manner, or scale, that synthetic organic chemistry has been carried out even though advances in instrumentation mean that less compound is required for identification and analysis. This project aims to bridge the gap by developing recyclable miniaturised reaction vessels for the formation of organic compounds on a scale thousands of times smaller than it is currently done. These devices will have applications in drug discovery programmes due to higher throughput and increased efficiency while minimising waste.Read moreRead less
Harnessing light and electricity to drive chemical synthesis. This project will explore and establish original strategies that use inputs of energy (light and electricity) to break or form chemical bonds, which can provide new or improved access to valuable compounds. In this way, this research will augment or enhance existing methods for the selective and direct manipulation of molecules by creating tools that allow chemists to prepare molecules under particularly mild conditions. The outcomes ....Harnessing light and electricity to drive chemical synthesis. This project will explore and establish original strategies that use inputs of energy (light and electricity) to break or form chemical bonds, which can provide new or improved access to valuable compounds. In this way, this research will augment or enhance existing methods for the selective and direct manipulation of molecules by creating tools that allow chemists to prepare molecules under particularly mild conditions. The outcomes of the project will include the development of new technology for organic synthesis and forging novel approaches for chemical alkylation and cross-coupling reactions. This can contribute to making important compounds more efficiently, safely and cheaper to produce in the future.Read moreRead less
Switchable and stereocontrolled photoredox catalysis. This project aims to develop new catalytic synthetic reactions for the rapid and more direct functionalisation of organic compounds under mild conditions with the use of visible light. An integrated experimental and computational approach will be used to design potent visible-light photocatalysts that retain the advantages of standard photoredox catalysis but with the added ability to intercept and, thus control, reactive intermediates in sit ....Switchable and stereocontrolled photoredox catalysis. This project aims to develop new catalytic synthetic reactions for the rapid and more direct functionalisation of organic compounds under mild conditions with the use of visible light. An integrated experimental and computational approach will be used to design potent visible-light photocatalysts that retain the advantages of standard photoredox catalysis but with the added ability to intercept and, thus control, reactive intermediates in situ. This will enable the control of stereochemistry in photoredox reactions – not possible with standard catalysts - and establish other useful synthetic transformations. These strategies will make it easier to prepare valuable classes of organic molecules – efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively.
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Extraction of gold from thiosulfate leach liquors using selective magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) resins. Cyanide processes used for gold leaching can cause severe environmental problems. This proposal studies the use of thiosulfate as an alternative, concentrating on the design and synthesis of new functionalised magnetic ion-exchange resins, which will act as selective adsorbents for the gold thiosulfate complex and thereby facilitate the implementation of this efficient, low environmental impact ....Extraction of gold from thiosulfate leach liquors using selective magnetic ion exchange (MIEX) resins. Cyanide processes used for gold leaching can cause severe environmental problems. This proposal studies the use of thiosulfate as an alternative, concentrating on the design and synthesis of new functionalised magnetic ion-exchange resins, which will act as selective adsorbents for the gold thiosulfate complex and thereby facilitate the implementation of this efficient, low environmental impact process. Since the leaching is typically applied to ores rich in copper, resins for the recovery of copper will also be designed. Laboratory proving trials will be conducted and successful candidates will be considered for future commercialisation of a Resin-in-Pulp leaching and recovery process.Read moreRead less
Nucleophilic carbenes as organocatalysts for asymmetric synthesis. Chemical compounds which come in two chiral mirror images (enantiomers) can have very different biological function. Often one form can have beneficial effects while the other can cause great harm (such as birth defects in the case of thalidomide). It is therefore very important for the drug industry to have asymmetric chemical reactions that lead specifically to only one enantiomer. The asymmetric reactions in this project ha ....Nucleophilic carbenes as organocatalysts for asymmetric synthesis. Chemical compounds which come in two chiral mirror images (enantiomers) can have very different biological function. Often one form can have beneficial effects while the other can cause great harm (such as birth defects in the case of thalidomide). It is therefore very important for the drug industry to have asymmetric chemical reactions that lead specifically to only one enantiomer. The asymmetric reactions in this project have been used previously to synthesise the anti-cancer metabolite roseophilin. The results of this project will ensure that there are many more similar success stories in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
High Oxidation State and Related Chemistry of Organic Compounds of Palladium. Palladium is able to form compounds containing palladium-carbon bonds, and compounds of this type occur in applications such as synthesis of organic compounds. The fundamental chemistry of this class of palladium compound is to be explored, in particular for the oxidation state +IV for palladium and with a focus on reactions that are relevant to processes occurring in organic synthesis applications. Particular emphas ....High Oxidation State and Related Chemistry of Organic Compounds of Palladium. Palladium is able to form compounds containing palladium-carbon bonds, and compounds of this type occur in applications such as synthesis of organic compounds. The fundamental chemistry of this class of palladium compound is to be explored, in particular for the oxidation state +IV for palladium and with a focus on reactions that are relevant to processes occurring in organic synthesis applications. Particular emphasis is placed on chemistry involving phosphorus compounds and unsaturated organic groups bonded to palladium, and on compounds containing groups that are able to join together to depart from palladium as organic compounds containing carbon-oxygen bonds.Read moreRead less
New Directions in Alkynylpalladium and Platinum Chemistry. Reactions involving palladium or platinum compounds with organic reagents are important for the synthesis of new materials and organic molecules, including pharmaceuticals. This research program will provide a better understanding of applications involving these metals, together with advances in fundamental chemistry of wide general interest at an international level, and high quality research training in an area essential for the conti ....New Directions in Alkynylpalladium and Platinum Chemistry. Reactions involving palladium or platinum compounds with organic reagents are important for the synthesis of new materials and organic molecules, including pharmaceuticals. This research program will provide a better understanding of applications involving these metals, together with advances in fundamental chemistry of wide general interest at an international level, and high quality research training in an area essential for the continued development of modern chemical and related industries in Australia.Read moreRead less
High performance chromatography based on nanostructured monolithic polymers. The proposed project will generate highly significant, fundamental advances in separation science by developing new stationary phases and separation technologies suitable for the analysis of very complex samples which cannot be addressed by current methods. These technologies will be applied in a wide range of areas of national importance including pharmaceutical analysis and drug discovery; environmental, clinical, and ....High performance chromatography based on nanostructured monolithic polymers. The proposed project will generate highly significant, fundamental advances in separation science by developing new stationary phases and separation technologies suitable for the analysis of very complex samples which cannot be addressed by current methods. These technologies will be applied in a wide range of areas of national importance including pharmaceutical analysis and drug discovery; environmental, clinical, and forensic analysis; energy generation and foods. The project will also lead to very significant new intellectual property having extremely high commercial potential worldwide, and thereby generates the promise of considerable direct financial returns to Australia.Read moreRead less
Bioanalytical Microchips Based on Integrated, Application Tailored Monolithic Modules. Microfluidic devices offer substantial advantages over current technology, in terms of speed, cost of analysis, portability, operator simplicity and safety. Integrating multiple analytical processes within a simple and reliable portable device will lead to application in a range of areas, from pharmacology to therapeutic drug monitoring, proteomic and metabolomic screening for disease diagnosis and drug develo ....Bioanalytical Microchips Based on Integrated, Application Tailored Monolithic Modules. Microfluidic devices offer substantial advantages over current technology, in terms of speed, cost of analysis, portability, operator simplicity and safety. Integrating multiple analytical processes within a simple and reliable portable device will lead to application in a range of areas, from pharmacology to therapeutic drug monitoring, proteomic and metabolomic screening for disease diagnosis and drug development, and also for performing clinical diagnostics in a rural area. This will significantly impact on the quality of life of the Nation as a whole, not only due to expedient diagnosis and treatment which has obvious health benefits, but also in the considerable financial benefits that result from early and efficient treatment. Read moreRead less
Coinage metal nanoclusters: synthesis, structure and reactivity. Metal catalysts play important roles in the multi-billion dollar production of many industrial and fine chemicals used in wide-ranging applications including pharmaceuticals, insecticides and polymers. Despite the importance of metal catalysed reactions, the molecular details of such processes remain poorly understood. Breakthrough studies highlight that reactions previously thought to be catalysed by discrete metal catalysts are i ....Coinage metal nanoclusters: synthesis, structure and reactivity. Metal catalysts play important roles in the multi-billion dollar production of many industrial and fine chemicals used in wide-ranging applications including pharmaceuticals, insecticides and polymers. Despite the importance of metal catalysed reactions, the molecular details of such processes remain poorly understood. Breakthrough studies highlight that reactions previously thought to be catalysed by discrete metal catalysts are in fact catalysed by metal nanoclusters. This project involves the application of advanced mass spectrometric and computational methods to explore the formation and reactivity of copper, silver and gold nanoclusters. Identification of key reactive intermediates will inform the design of next generation catalysts.Read moreRead less