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
Metal complexes for activation and scission of small, multiply-bonded molecules. The outcome of this work is a series of metal complexes capable of cleaving the strong bonds in a number of small molecules of chemical importance. This will have a significant impact on industry by providing cheaper and safer alternatives to currently expensive and hazardous processes for producing nitrogen and phosphorus containing compounds.
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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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0239176
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$675,000.00
Summary
High performance computing for mathematics, chemistry, engineering and climate research. The aim of this proposal is to accelerate research across a range of disciplines using high performance computing which is currently limited by the present available computing power. These disciplines include: mathematical modelling of magnetic resonance imaging, computational chemistry, engineering fluid dynamics, climate system modelling including atmosphere, ocean and ice sheet simulations. The Univers ....High performance computing for mathematics, chemistry, engineering and climate research. The aim of this proposal is to accelerate research across a range of disciplines using high performance computing which is currently limited by the present available computing power. These disciplines include: mathematical modelling of magnetic resonance imaging, computational chemistry, engineering fluid dynamics, climate system modelling including atmosphere, ocean and ice sheet simulations. The University of Tasmania, the Antarctic CRC and Australian Antarctic Division are combining resources to share in a joint facility of much greater capability. The proposed new high performance computing facility will increase in the computational power (over a weighted average of our benchmarks) by 13, an 8 fold increase in memory, and a 10 fold increase in disk storage. This new facility will allow these research groups to maintain their internationally leading edge status in high performance computing.Read moreRead less
Metal-promoted bond functionalisation: new routes to amides and thioamides. This project aims to discover new metal-promoted methods to synthesise amides and thioamides, important structural motifs in chemistry and biology. The project will use a mechanism-based approach that integrates theory with gas- and solution-phase experiments to discover new chemical reactions. A benefit of this research will be new eco-friendly alternatives to existing processes, thereby reducing waste and eliminating t ....Metal-promoted bond functionalisation: new routes to amides and thioamides. This project aims to discover new metal-promoted methods to synthesise amides and thioamides, important structural motifs in chemistry and biology. The project will use a mechanism-based approach that integrates theory with gas- and solution-phase experiments to discover new chemical reactions. A benefit of this research will be new eco-friendly alternatives to existing processes, thereby reducing waste and eliminating toxic and expensive reagents.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100068
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$417,237.00
Summary
Original metal-based catalysts for enzyme-inspired CO2 activation. The chemical utilisation of CO2 is one of two major strategies in achieving net negative CO2 emissions mitigating the environmental and socioeconomic damage of global warming. Inspired by the ability of natural enzymes to efficiently utilise molecules like CO2, this project aims to develop original metal-based catalysts as enzyme mimics for the efficient transformation of CO2. It will deliver practical strategies to transform CO2 ....Original metal-based catalysts for enzyme-inspired CO2 activation. The chemical utilisation of CO2 is one of two major strategies in achieving net negative CO2 emissions mitigating the environmental and socioeconomic damage of global warming. Inspired by the ability of natural enzymes to efficiently utilise molecules like CO2, this project aims to develop original metal-based catalysts as enzyme mimics for the efficient transformation of CO2. It will deliver practical strategies to transform CO2 into value-added materials permanently removing it from the atmosphere. Project outcomes are expected to enhance industry’s capacity to use CO2 as a feedstock chemical for the production of fuels and materials, providing significant economic and environmental benefits through CO2 upcycling and recycling.Read moreRead less
The development of homogeneous catalytic processes for the manufacture of new chemical products derivable from Australia's resources. The research proposed is deliberately aimed at exploiting opportunities that will arise as a result of changes that are taking place in the global petrochemical industry. It is almost certain that Australia will take part in these changes through the utilisation of its gas and coal reserves and abundant biomass. Early advances in the processes that are presented a ....The development of homogeneous catalytic processes for the manufacture of new chemical products derivable from Australia's resources. The research proposed is deliberately aimed at exploiting opportunities that will arise as a result of changes that are taking place in the global petrochemical industry. It is almost certain that Australia will take part in these changes through the utilisation of its gas and coal reserves and abundant biomass. Early advances in the processes that are presented above will allow Australian industries to benefit from these changes, and will allow significant value-adding to Australia's resources.Read moreRead less
Metal complexes for sustainable light-driven synthesis. The aim of this project is to use cheap, abundant transition metal ions and visible light to enable challenging synthetic chemical reactions. The significant problems addressed are that most synthetic reactions using visible light currently require expensive precious metals, and fundamental reaction pathways used by Nature remain inaccessible. Both of these problems limit the scope of synthetic applications. The outcomes will be new knowled ....Metal complexes for sustainable light-driven synthesis. The aim of this project is to use cheap, abundant transition metal ions and visible light to enable challenging synthetic chemical reactions. The significant problems addressed are that most synthetic reactions using visible light currently require expensive precious metals, and fundamental reaction pathways used by Nature remain inaccessible. Both of these problems limit the scope of synthetic applications. The outcomes will be new knowledge and sustainable technologies that can better harness visible light for useful synthetic chemistry applications. The benefits will be more efficient and cost-effective routes to valuable molecules ubiquitous in everyday life.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
New Look N-Heterocyclic Metallocenes of the Lanthanides Based on 4-Azapentalenyl Anions. Since there are abundant, but under utilised, reserves of lanthanide minerals in Australia, it is in Australia's best interest that their chemistry is developed into commercial applications in industrial catalysis. This project addresses this situation through the detailed study of carefully chosen organolanthanide compounds (specifically, comprising hetero-substituted metallocenes). The research strategy ....New Look N-Heterocyclic Metallocenes of the Lanthanides Based on 4-Azapentalenyl Anions. Since there are abundant, but under utilised, reserves of lanthanide minerals in Australia, it is in Australia's best interest that their chemistry is developed into commercial applications in industrial catalysis. This project addresses this situation through the detailed study of carefully chosen organolanthanide compounds (specifically, comprising hetero-substituted metallocenes). The research strategy will be directed towards advancing our knowledge in relation to fundamental chemical processes that are directly relevant to the industrial production of important commodity chemicals and polymers from often under utilised petroleum industry waste stocks.Read moreRead less