Metal catalysed reactions in organic synthesis. The major aim of this project is to develop highly efficient metal-catalysed routes to pharmaceuticals, e.g. new antibiotics and other commercially important organic molecules.
Particular attention will be paid to developing systems which facilitate the addition of readily available, cheap small molecules, e.g. hydrogen and carbon monoxide, to unsaturated organic molecules with high regio- and stereoselectivity.
Worldwide demand for enantiomeric ....Metal catalysed reactions in organic synthesis. The major aim of this project is to develop highly efficient metal-catalysed routes to pharmaceuticals, e.g. new antibiotics and other commercially important organic molecules.
Particular attention will be paid to developing systems which facilitate the addition of readily available, cheap small molecules, e.g. hydrogen and carbon monoxide, to unsaturated organic molecules with high regio- and stereoselectivity.
Worldwide demand for enantiomerically pure chiral molecules (i.e. one mirror-image form) continues to rise. New metal-catalysed asymmetric syntheses will help meet this challenge. Tandem metal-catalysed reactions will be used to prepare new heterocyclic compounds with potential as specific metal binding agents and biosensors.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic and Methodology Based Total Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products. The proposal will study the synthesis of novel natural products that possess biological activities. Most significantly, this project will deliver compounds with anticancer activity. In addition, chemistry may be developed which could be utilised to synthesise a number of bioactive molecules. The rewards of the synthesis of compounds and application for the treatment of cancer and other diseases are enormous for the ....Biomimetic and Methodology Based Total Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products. The proposal will study the synthesis of novel natural products that possess biological activities. Most significantly, this project will deliver compounds with anticancer activity. In addition, chemistry may be developed which could be utilised to synthesise a number of bioactive molecules. The rewards of the synthesis of compounds and application for the treatment of cancer and other diseases are enormous for the community and in the education and training of scientists.Read moreRead less
Total Synthesis of Novel Metabolites form Microorganisms. The main aim of this proposal is to achieve the chemical synthesis of a number of biologically active novel natural products isolated from microorganisms. This will involve the development of new methods as well as improvement on exisiting approaches developed so far. The targets will include the myxobacteria metabolites crocacins A, B and D and apicularen A, the streptomyces metabolites reveromycin A and spirofungin A and the fungal meta ....Total Synthesis of Novel Metabolites form Microorganisms. The main aim of this proposal is to achieve the chemical synthesis of a number of biologically active novel natural products isolated from microorganisms. This will involve the development of new methods as well as improvement on exisiting approaches developed so far. The targets will include the myxobacteria metabolites crocacins A, B and D and apicularen A, the streptomyces metabolites reveromycin A and spirofungin A and the fungal metabolite zaragozic acid C.
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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
Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders; it affects 1% of the world’s population, yet about 1 in 3 patients fail to achieve seizure control with current drugs. We will improve the properties of small molecules (drugs) that specifically target the GTPase activity of the enzyme dynamin, to reduce seizure effect in the brain by a novel mechanism. We will optimize and pre-clinically test these future chemical entities as potential anti-epileptic drugs.
The Synthesis and Analysis of Certain Explosives and Illicit Drugs for Improved Forensic Detection. There is an increasing demand within law enforcement agencies, worldwide, for selective and sensitive methods for the determination of illicit substances. Over the last decade Deakin University chemists have played a major role in establishing the utility of chemiluminescent reactions for the determination of a variety of pharmaceutical opiates in process streams. This project seeks to build upon ....The Synthesis and Analysis of Certain Explosives and Illicit Drugs for Improved Forensic Detection. There is an increasing demand within law enforcement agencies, worldwide, for selective and sensitive methods for the determination of illicit substances. Over the last decade Deakin University chemists have played a major role in establishing the utility of chemiluminescent reactions for the determination of a variety of pharmaceutical opiates in process streams. This project seeks to build upon these successes, in order to develop innovative analytical strategies for forensic detection of certain illicit drugs and explosives. The results of this research have the potential to revolutionise key aspects of forensic analysis.Read moreRead less
Novel organic materials for efficient low-cost solar cells. Finding sources of renewable energy is the greatest challenge faced by mankind in the coming decades. Solar energy has the potential to provide a large fraction of the world's energy needs. The successful development of a solar technology capable of large scale energy production will reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, leading to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and a sustainable envir ....Novel organic materials for efficient low-cost solar cells. Finding sources of renewable energy is the greatest challenge faced by mankind in the coming decades. Solar energy has the potential to provide a large fraction of the world's energy needs. The successful development of a solar technology capable of large scale energy production will reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, leading to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and a sustainable environment. The harnessing of solar energy involves a number of frontier technologies that will enhance Australia's strengths in research and innovation. There is also potential for the creation of a world-class industry in solar energy that has both economic and environmental benefits.Read moreRead less
Novel Lanthanide Complexes and Polymeric Luminescent Chelates for Biomedical Imaging and Bioassay. The development of advanced materials and frontier technologies such as the luminescent chelates proposed here is essential for Australia's evolution as a competitive nation in fields such as biomedical imaging and clinical diagnostics. For example, the total expenditure on fluorescent reagents in 2004 exceeded US$1.5 billion, with an estimated 25% annual growth. With proven applications in diagnos ....Novel Lanthanide Complexes and Polymeric Luminescent Chelates for Biomedical Imaging and Bioassay. The development of advanced materials and frontier technologies such as the luminescent chelates proposed here is essential for Australia's evolution as a competitive nation in fields such as biomedical imaging and clinical diagnostics. For example, the total expenditure on fluorescent reagents in 2004 exceeded US$1.5 billion, with an estimated 25% annual growth. With proven applications in diagnostic immunoassay and high throughput screening, the use of luminescent lanthanide complexes allows significant improvements over traditional fluorophores, facilitating miniaturisation and ultimately leading to reduced costs for the consumer.Read moreRead less
Probing the Interface Between Polymeric Photonic Materials and Biology. This application provides a basis for Professor A. B. Holmes to develop a collaboration between the University of Melbourne (within the Bio21 Institute initiative) and CSIRO Division of Molecular Science to prepare novel plastics for electronics applications (lap top displays, transistors and solar cells) and to make specialised macromolecules for studying the way in which biological molecules may be made to recognise other ....Probing the Interface Between Polymeric Photonic Materials and Biology. This application provides a basis for Professor A. B. Holmes to develop a collaboration between the University of Melbourne (within the Bio21 Institute initiative) and CSIRO Division of Molecular Science to prepare novel plastics for electronics applications (lap top displays, transistors and solar cells) and to make specialised macromolecules for studying the way in which biological molecules may be made to recognise other molecules and thus change their function. It is envisaged that the multidisciplinary research collaboration will lead to commercial opportunities in "plastic electronics" and in human health such as the control of cancer and infectious diseases.Read moreRead less
Immobilised Lipid Chromatography for Membrane Protein Isolation and Analysis. Current techniques for membrane protein are inadequate for the emerging proteomic challenge, in which approximately 40% of proteins are predicted to be membrane associated. The aim of this proposal is to develop a new approach to purify membrane proteins using our recently-developed immobilised membrane chromatography materials. The present proposal will provide a new high-resolution separation technique that allows is ....Immobilised Lipid Chromatography for Membrane Protein Isolation and Analysis. Current techniques for membrane protein are inadequate for the emerging proteomic challenge, in which approximately 40% of proteins are predicted to be membrane associated. The aim of this proposal is to develop a new approach to purify membrane proteins using our recently-developed immobilised membrane chromatography materials. The present proposal will provide a new high-resolution separation technique that allows isolation and on-line mass analysis of complex mixtures of membrane proteins for subsequent proteomic analysis, high-throughput screening or structural studies and could form the basis for further development of new commercial tools for membrane protein analysis.Read moreRead less