Preparation and properties of oligo- and polycyclophanes. Materials with advanced optical and electronic properties. This project aims to prepare a novel class of organic and organometallic material that has both theoretical and practical applications. Nanotechnology requires unique arrangements of atoms that can give rise to enhanced macroscopic properties and we have embarked on a project that will provide new oligomers and polymers for the construction of the next generation of optical and el ....Preparation and properties of oligo- and polycyclophanes. Materials with advanced optical and electronic properties. This project aims to prepare a novel class of organic and organometallic material that has both theoretical and practical applications. Nanotechnology requires unique arrangements of atoms that can give rise to enhanced macroscopic properties and we have embarked on a project that will provide new oligomers and polymers for the construction of the next generation of optical and electronic devices.Read moreRead less
New synthetic strategies towards higher order fullerenes. Fullerene or C60 is a novel soccer-ball shaped molecule with many potential applications as new materials and pharmaceutical drugs. This project aims to develop novel methods for the preparation of new fullerene derivatives that will have potential future applications in materials science, medicinal/pharmaceutical chemistry and chemical synthesis.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Bioactive Alkaloids and Analogues via Chiral, Polylfunctionalized-Pyrrolidines. Alkaloids are plant products that have many useful biological and pharmaceutical properties. Many of these compounds have potential as antiviral and anticancer therapeutics. This project aims to develop novel methods of preparing bioactive alkaloids and their structural analogues. These compounds potentially have applications as new potent and less toxic pharmaceutical agents.
Development of Pyrrolopyrimidines as Inhibitors of ATP-Binding Proteins. This project seeks to generate analogues of natural products that have been found to be active against cancer cells and tropical parasites. The new materials produced by this project will aid in the study of biochemical processes involved in diseases such as cancer and lymphatic filariasis, thus leading the way to development of these compounds as potential treatments for such diseases.
Anion Binding and Sensing With Self-Assembled Metallo-Supramolecular Assemblies. Anions are of particular significance in several areas relating to the day-to-day lives of Australians; for example as contaminants in waterways and nuclear waste streams, as indicators of chemical weapons, and as antagonists in biological systems. The proposed research programme will investigate a relatively unexplored approach to binding and sensing anions. This will further research in the area of supramolecular ....Anion Binding and Sensing With Self-Assembled Metallo-Supramolecular Assemblies. Anions are of particular significance in several areas relating to the day-to-day lives of Australians; for example as contaminants in waterways and nuclear waste streams, as indicators of chemical weapons, and as antagonists in biological systems. The proposed research programme will investigate a relatively unexplored approach to binding and sensing anions. This will further research in the area of supramolecular chemistry, providing additional research expertise in this rapidly progressing area of the chemical sciences. In terms of Breakthrough science the targeted assemblies will shed further light on self-assembly processes involving ligands with different domains, placing Australian research at the forefront of such investigations.Read moreRead less
New Methodology for the Stereoselective Construction of Oxygen Heterocycles and Rare Sugar Analogues. The overall goal of this research is to develop new synthetic methods, particularly ones that exhibit high levels of stereocontrol. Current research efforts are directed towards the stereoselective construction of oxygen heterocycles and rare sugar analogues both in their racemic and chiral forms utilising 1,2-dioxines containing tethered hydroxyl moieties as the key chemical precursors. It is e ....New Methodology for the Stereoselective Construction of Oxygen Heterocycles and Rare Sugar Analogues. The overall goal of this research is to develop new synthetic methods, particularly ones that exhibit high levels of stereocontrol. Current research efforts are directed towards the stereoselective construction of oxygen heterocycles and rare sugar analogues both in their racemic and chiral forms utilising 1,2-dioxines containing tethered hydroxyl moieties as the key chemical precursors. It is envisaged that these investigations will lead to the development of simple experimental protocols for the synthesis of new bioactive organics.Read moreRead less
Predisposed organic synthesis inspired by the simplicty of nature. The aim of this project is to use the simplicity and efficiency of biosynthesis to inspire the development of new strategies for the synthesis of whole families of related natural products with known antibiotic activity. Natural products with potent antibiotic properties are produced by microorganisms as a means of chemical defence. These complex molecules are biosynthesised from a limited set of simple biosynthetic building bloc ....Predisposed organic synthesis inspired by the simplicty of nature. The aim of this project is to use the simplicity and efficiency of biosynthesis to inspire the development of new strategies for the synthesis of whole families of related natural products with known antibiotic activity. Natural products with potent antibiotic properties are produced by microorganisms as a means of chemical defence. These complex molecules are biosynthesised from a limited set of simple biosynthetic building blocks via predisposed, complexity generating cascade reactions. The project aims to generate new lead compounds for the advancement of next-generation antibiotics. The synthesis of proposed biosynthetic intermediates would also allow enzymatic studies to help confirm the novel biosynthetic proposals.Read moreRead less
Polymer nanoparticles and their assembled supracolloidal monolithic structures for applications in separation science. This project will generate new polymeric materials that will improve the analysis of complex samples. This will be applied in a wide range of areas of national importance including: pharmaceutical analysis and drug discovery; environmental, clinical and forensic analysis; and energy generation and foods.
New Chemistry for the Total Synthesis of Pyrone Containing Marine Natural Products. The project will produce a range of compounds in the laboratory that have been identified from marine organisms. These compounds, which have potential as new medicines, are produced in minute quantities by the organisms, and synthesis in the laboratory is a way to produce significant quantities for biological evaluation. The new methods developed for the preparation of complex polypropionates compounds, can be a ....New Chemistry for the Total Synthesis of Pyrone Containing Marine Natural Products. The project will produce a range of compounds in the laboratory that have been identified from marine organisms. These compounds, which have potential as new medicines, are produced in minute quantities by the organisms, and synthesis in the laboratory is a way to produce significant quantities for biological evaluation. The new methods developed for the preparation of complex polypropionates compounds, can be applied to the preparation of known medicinally active compounds. The grant will allow a PhD student and post doctoral worker to receive first-rate training in organic and medicinal chemistry, which are areas in great demand to support the increasing number of start-up biotechnology and niche pharmaceutical companies.Read moreRead less
Development of an Adjustable Porphyrin-based Molecular Platform for Nanotechnology Applications. Nanotechnology, the art of molecular control, is often heralded as the next industrial revolution. For this to be realised, the construction of useful devices will require precise control at the molecular level. Our control is realised through a process called self-assembly which means that the once the components of the device are correctly designed, the device will simply be able to put itself tog ....Development of an Adjustable Porphyrin-based Molecular Platform for Nanotechnology Applications. Nanotechnology, the art of molecular control, is often heralded as the next industrial revolution. For this to be realised, the construction of useful devices will require precise control at the molecular level. Our control is realised through a process called self-assembly which means that the once the components of the device are correctly designed, the device will simply be able to put itself together. This research will use nature's light harvesting elements, namely porphyrins, and our ability to precisely control their position with respect to each other to build new, more efficient solar cells.Read moreRead less