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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100110
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,000.00
Summary
High Resolution Mass Spectrometer for Chemical Characterisation in WA. The aim of this proposal is to establish new high resolution mass spectrometry facilities for Western Australia which will support multiple areas of chemical, materials and environmental science. The proposed platform will address a major need for the separation and characterisation of molecules relevant to synthetic and natural products chemistry, advanced materials and environmental analyses. The facility will support a num ....High Resolution Mass Spectrometer for Chemical Characterisation in WA. The aim of this proposal is to establish new high resolution mass spectrometry facilities for Western Australia which will support multiple areas of chemical, materials and environmental science. The proposed platform will address a major need for the separation and characterisation of molecules relevant to synthetic and natural products chemistry, advanced materials and environmental analyses. The facility will support a number of high impact ARC funded research projects in diverse areas, such as plant growth regulation, molecular electronics and environmental contaminants. The new instrumentation will be easy to use, provide advanced high quality data and overall benefit the next generation of researchers in Western Australia.Read moreRead less
Eradicating bacterial biofilms with nitroxide-antimicrobial hybrids. This project aims to develop new antimicrobials to address the rise of drug-resistant infections and resilient bacterial communities called biofilms. We aim to break new ground in our fundamental knowledge of antimicrobial mechanisms and exploit this understanding by fusing cellular/molecular microbiology and synthetic chemistry approaches. We seek to gain an in-depth understanding of how nitroxides induce bacterial biofilm dis ....Eradicating bacterial biofilms with nitroxide-antimicrobial hybrids. This project aims to develop new antimicrobials to address the rise of drug-resistant infections and resilient bacterial communities called biofilms. We aim to break new ground in our fundamental knowledge of antimicrobial mechanisms and exploit this understanding by fusing cellular/molecular microbiology and synthetic chemistry approaches. We seek to gain an in-depth understanding of how nitroxides induce bacterial biofilm dispersal, which is critical for the discovery of anti-biofilm molecules that do not fail due to resistance development. These breakthroughs should induce a step-change in our ability to reduce the occurrence of biofilm-related infection in fields ranging from medical and veterinary to biotechnology and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Molecular probes for selective sensing of membrane phospholipids. The goal of this project is to develop a toolkit of molecular probes that are able to selectively bind to the phospholipids that constitute a large part of biological membranes. Membranes are composed of over one thousand structurally different lipid molecules but we do not have a clear understanding of how these structural differences impact on cell function. This project will provide new tools that can be applied to expand our k ....Molecular probes for selective sensing of membrane phospholipids. The goal of this project is to develop a toolkit of molecular probes that are able to selectively bind to the phospholipids that constitute a large part of biological membranes. Membranes are composed of over one thousand structurally different lipid molecules but we do not have a clear understanding of how these structural differences impact on cell function. This project will provide new tools that can be applied to expand our knowledge of the impact of lipid diversity on biological function. This will underpin advances throughout cell biology. It will provide new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration between synthetic chemists and cell biologists.Read moreRead less
Harnessing molecular strain for drug discovery and bioconjugation. Peptides and proteins are increasingly important therapies for the treatment of disease. Nevertheless, the synthesis and optimisation of these high-value compounds still relies primarily on technologies developed decades ago. There is a desperate need for modern strategies to unlock the full potential of peptides and proteins for diverse applications in drug discovery. This interdisciplinary research aims to develop new tools for ....Harnessing molecular strain for drug discovery and bioconjugation. Peptides and proteins are increasingly important therapies for the treatment of disease. Nevertheless, the synthesis and optimisation of these high-value compounds still relies primarily on technologies developed decades ago. There is a desperate need for modern strategies to unlock the full potential of peptides and proteins for diverse applications in drug discovery. This interdisciplinary research aims to develop new tools for the construction and modification of peptides and proteins by harnessing the energy in a unique class of strained molecules. A focus on peptide-based inhibitors of the proteasome, a critical target for modern cancer treatments, should provide future health and economic benefits for the Australian community.Read moreRead less
Mycobacterial Cholesterol Degradation: A Unique Metabolic Weakness? This project aims to understand the use of the steroid cholesterol as a source of essential metabolic building blocks by bacteria. Cholesterol utilisation is a key feature of many bacterial pathogens which have evolved to survive in niche environments. By understanding the initial step in cholesterol degradation and the bioinorganic and bioorganic chemistry of the metalloenzymes that catalyse it, this work aims to develop strate ....Mycobacterial Cholesterol Degradation: A Unique Metabolic Weakness? This project aims to understand the use of the steroid cholesterol as a source of essential metabolic building blocks by bacteria. Cholesterol utilisation is a key feature of many bacterial pathogens which have evolved to survive in niche environments. By understanding the initial step in cholesterol degradation and the bioinorganic and bioorganic chemistry of the metalloenzymes that catalyse it, this work aims to develop strategies to block this activity. This will turn a key strength of these bacteria into a potent weakness and will generate the proof of principle and knowledge required for the future development of effective strategies to combat pathogenic bacteria.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100949
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,364.00
Summary
Metal-free strategies for sustainable light-driven synthesis. Innovation in synthetic chemistry drives the discovery of new life-saving drugs, agrochemicals and functional materials. This project aims to use visible light to access underexploited reactive intermediates and harness their unique reactivity in new sustainable synthetic transformations. The new chemical processes are expected to deliver increased economy, efficiency and precision in the synthesis of bioactive molecules that are inac ....Metal-free strategies for sustainable light-driven synthesis. Innovation in synthetic chemistry drives the discovery of new life-saving drugs, agrochemicals and functional materials. This project aims to use visible light to access underexploited reactive intermediates and harness their unique reactivity in new sustainable synthetic transformations. The new chemical processes are expected to deliver increased economy, efficiency and precision in the synthesis of bioactive molecules that are inaccessible or challenging to prepare with existing technologies. The conceptual and practical outcomes of this project are expected to benefit both academia and industry as the use of hazardous and expensive metal catalysts can be avoided, reducing chemical waste and simplifying purification.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Synthetic Efficiency For Molecular Complexity and Diversity. This project aims to introduce new, broad-spectrum strategies that permit more efficient and selective ways to access complex organic molecules. The approach involves maximising the molecule-building potential of some of the smallest accessible molecular building blocks. Significant outcomes expected from this work include much shorter chemical syntheses of important organic substances and much improved, broad scope synthetic ....Enhanced Synthetic Efficiency For Molecular Complexity and Diversity. This project aims to introduce new, broad-spectrum strategies that permit more efficient and selective ways to access complex organic molecules. The approach involves maximising the molecule-building potential of some of the smallest accessible molecular building blocks. Significant outcomes expected from this work include much shorter chemical syntheses of important organic substances and much improved, broad scope synthetic methods. The concepts introduced by this work aims to benefit industry and manufacturing by introducing more efficient methods for fine chemical manufacture, while simultaneously lowering energy use and producing less waste.Read moreRead less
Hydrogen atom abstraction and addition via proton coupled electron transfer. To prepare new chemicals for the challenges of today, and those in the future, new ways to build materials are needed. These need to deliver maximum complexity (necessary for increasingly sophisticated applications) with minimal economic and environmental cost. In this proposal a family of reactions that are possible using light mediated chemistry will be developed. This approach will allow technologies to be discovered ....Hydrogen atom abstraction and addition via proton coupled electron transfer. To prepare new chemicals for the challenges of today, and those in the future, new ways to build materials are needed. These need to deliver maximum complexity (necessary for increasingly sophisticated applications) with minimal economic and environmental cost. In this proposal a family of reactions that are possible using light mediated chemistry will be developed. This approach will allow technologies to be discovered that will enhance the scientific communities ability to deliver materials designed for a wide array of functions from medicinal chemistry, through to materials science. Read moreRead less
Multi-Bond-Forming Processes: Step-Economical Synthesis In Batch And Flow. This project aims to develop better ways to make and understand organic substances: the materials that make up all known life forms, our medicines, and many designed materials. Based on the previous development of powerful multi-bond-forming processes, the purpose of this project is to develop cascade sequences involving dendralenes in new and innovative ways. The project plans to generalise these processes and apply them ....Multi-Bond-Forming Processes: Step-Economical Synthesis In Batch And Flow. This project aims to develop better ways to make and understand organic substances: the materials that make up all known life forms, our medicines, and many designed materials. Based on the previous development of powerful multi-bond-forming processes, the purpose of this project is to develop cascade sequences involving dendralenes in new and innovative ways. The project plans to generalise these processes and apply them in short total syntheses; extend the boundaries of multi-bond-forming processes and break new records; and reach higher levels of synthetic efficiency and selectivity by introducing the latest flow chemistry and automated reaction optimisation technology.Read moreRead less