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.
New Cascade Routes to Biologically Important Molecules. This research involves the development of short and efficient syntheses of several different classes of biologically active molecules using cascade reactions: spectacular events in which many chemical bonds are formed. Two distinct types of cascade reactions will be investigated and naturally-occurring molecules with antineoplastic, anti-immunosuppressive, antiviral and antimalarial activities will be prepared. These new, expedient routes a ....New Cascade Routes to Biologically Important Molecules. This research involves the development of short and efficient syntheses of several different classes of biologically active molecules using cascade reactions: spectacular events in which many chemical bonds are formed. Two distinct types of cascade reactions will be investigated and naturally-occurring molecules with antineoplastic, anti-immunosuppressive, antiviral and antimalarial activities will be prepared. These new, expedient routes allow the preparation of a wide range of structurally-related analogues; an important prerequisite for the preparation of libraries of compounds for biological evaluation. Along the way, important information about the chemical reactivity patterns of a newly-prepared, fundamental class of hydrocarbon molecules will be obtained.Read moreRead less
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.
Functional polymeric nanopores from cyclic peptide templates. This research programme will develop nanotubes prepared through the self-assembly of cyclic peptide/polymer conjugates into functional devices for applications as nanopores. The project will establish the fundamental knowledge required to develop these materials into nanoporous polymeric films and transmembrane channels. The research programme will establish new synthetic routes to the conjugates, ascertain the technique of assembly i ....Functional polymeric nanopores from cyclic peptide templates. This research programme will develop nanotubes prepared through the self-assembly of cyclic peptide/polymer conjugates into functional devices for applications as nanopores. The project will establish the fundamental knowledge required to develop these materials into nanoporous polymeric films and transmembrane channels. The research programme will establish new synthetic routes to the conjugates, ascertain the technique of assembly into nanotubes, with a particular focus on improving the precision with which we achieve structural control, and explore the use of the nanotubes to design nanopores, for applications in the manufacture of nanoporous materials, as antibiotic agents and as biosensors.Read moreRead less
New Horizons in Diels-Alder Chemistry. Using a unique joint experimental-computational approach, we will develop reliable ways to predict the outcome of one of the most important chemical reactions. Practical applications of these new predictive tools will be developed involving powerful new versions of the reaction. Several different classes of biologically active natural products will be prepared including molecules with antitumor and antiretroviral activities. Libraries of structurally-relate ....New Horizons in Diels-Alder Chemistry. Using a unique joint experimental-computational approach, we will develop reliable ways to predict the outcome of one of the most important chemical reactions. Practical applications of these new predictive tools will be developed involving powerful new versions of the reaction. Several different classes of biologically active natural products will be prepared including molecules with antitumor and antiretroviral activities. Libraries of structurally-related analogues of natural compounds will be synthesised for biological evaluation.Read moreRead less
Novel Synthetic Receptors For Selective Recognition of Phosphate Oxoanions. Anions are critical to the maintenance of life, playing roles in almost every biochemical process. Artificial anion receptors that bind strongly to specific anions have considerable potential applications in biomedicine, but current receptors do not possess the required selectivity for applications. We will undertake the design and construction of a number of molecular receptors tailored to complement the size, shape and ....Novel Synthetic Receptors For Selective Recognition of Phosphate Oxoanions. Anions are critical to the maintenance of life, playing roles in almost every biochemical process. Artificial anion receptors that bind strongly to specific anions have considerable potential applications in biomedicine, but current receptors do not possess the required selectivity for applications. We will undertake the design and construction of a number of molecular receptors tailored to complement the size, shape and charge of specific biologically important anions and will assess their ability to bind selectively to their target guests. This will lead to the development of small molecule receptors for use in biomedical applications.Read moreRead less
Organic Linchpin Reagents to Construct Structural Diversity and Complexity. High-energy chemical species such as carbenes, nitrenes or free radicals are often used as reactive intermediates in organic reactions to rapidly generate new bonds, structures and structural complexities. Due to their reactive nature, traditionally only one type of high-energy chemical species can be featured at a time to avoid unwanted complicated side reactions. This project aims to develop novel synthetic substrates ....Organic Linchpin Reagents to Construct Structural Diversity and Complexity. High-energy chemical species such as carbenes, nitrenes or free radicals are often used as reactive intermediates in organic reactions to rapidly generate new bonds, structures and structural complexities. Due to their reactive nature, traditionally only one type of high-energy chemical species can be featured at a time to avoid unwanted complicated side reactions. This project aims to develop novel synthetic substrates bearing multiple carbene and nitrene precursors of different types. These high-energy intermediates can be released in a relayed fashion by controlling orthogonal stimuli and therefore acting as linchpin reagents for quick construction of bio- or photo-active compounds and unprecedented complicated structures.Read moreRead less
Backbone Modified Cyclic Peptides: Scaffolds for Supramolecular Chemistry. The synthesis of compounds that mimic Nature's catalysts - enzymes - will provide us with a better understanding of how these intriguing molecules function and may lead to the development of new catalysts for industrial processes. Modified cyclic peptides could be used as platforms to arrange catalytic groups in a spatially well-defined manner to mimic enzymes. As cyclic peptides are often difficult to prepare, I aim to d ....Backbone Modified Cyclic Peptides: Scaffolds for Supramolecular Chemistry. The synthesis of compounds that mimic Nature's catalysts - enzymes - will provide us with a better understanding of how these intriguing molecules function and may lead to the development of new catalysts for industrial processes. Modified cyclic peptides could be used as platforms to arrange catalytic groups in a spatially well-defined manner to mimic enzymes. As cyclic peptides are often difficult to prepare, I aim to develop a powerful general method for their synthesis. This methodology will then be applied to the synthesis of cyclic peptide-based enzyme mimics.Read moreRead less
Self-Assembled Porphyrin-Fullerene Photovoltaic Electrodes: Towards Nanostructured Organic Solar Cells. Energy is arguably the single most important problem facing humanity today. The development of cheap, efficient photovoltaic technology could dramatically change this, providing humanity with renewable, environmentally acceptable energy resources. The need to replace present electrical energy generation, largely based on fossil fuel, is without argument given the detrimental effects of global ....Self-Assembled Porphyrin-Fullerene Photovoltaic Electrodes: Towards Nanostructured Organic Solar Cells. Energy is arguably the single most important problem facing humanity today. The development of cheap, efficient photovoltaic technology could dramatically change this, providing humanity with renewable, environmentally acceptable energy resources. The need to replace present electrical energy generation, largely based on fossil fuel, is without argument given the detrimental effects of global warming from increasing carbon dioxide production. The development and implementation of cheap, efficient photovoltaic technologies in Australia will not only ensure its sustainable economic growth but also contribute in a major way to the improved use of land, water, mineral and other energy resources in Australia. Read moreRead less
Metallographitic Discs as New Materials. Materials science plays a pivotal role in determining and improving economic performance and quality of life. While application of materials is the ultimate goal, basic understanding of a material's behaviour from the atomic/nano-level to macrostructural level is also of critical importance. This project builds upon the recent success of soluble, well-defined carbon discs in molecular electronics, through the preparation and study of metal-containing deri ....Metallographitic Discs as New Materials. Materials science plays a pivotal role in determining and improving economic performance and quality of life. While application of materials is the ultimate goal, basic understanding of a material's behaviour from the atomic/nano-level to macrostructural level is also of critical importance. This project builds upon the recent success of soluble, well-defined carbon discs in molecular electronics, through the preparation and study of metal-containing derivatives as new advanced crystalline and liquid crystalline materials. The possibility of enhanced electronic, optical and/or magnetic properties, along with good processability, make these materials potential candidates as the active component of future, technologically important devices.Read moreRead less