Dynamic Force Microscopy of small molecular assemblies. The possibility of manipulating a single molecule seems at first unreal, indeed 5 years ago it was pure science fiction. Through the gaining popularity of the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) many perspectives about the molecular world are changing. Macroscopic effects such as adhesion and lubrication are now discussed in light of measurements made with this instrument. Newer work includes the observation of single protein unfolding experim ....Dynamic Force Microscopy of small molecular assemblies. The possibility of manipulating a single molecule seems at first unreal, indeed 5 years ago it was pure science fiction. Through the gaining popularity of the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) many perspectives about the molecular world are changing. Macroscopic effects such as adhesion and lubrication are now discussed in light of measurements made with this instrument. Newer work includes the observation of single protein unfolding experiments. The biophysics oriented project detailed in this application will extend the AFM: into multi-molecular systems formed by self-assembly, such as cell membranes; into polyelectrolyte-surface interactions; and, finally into the sequencing of DNA.Read moreRead less
Improving neuronal cell function with cell permeable copper complexes. Metal-based drugs offer an exciting new approach to treatment of neurodegeneration. However, little is known about how cells metabolise these drugs and this information is critical for further drug development. This project will determine how metal-based drugs are metabolised by neuronal cells and how this may result in therapeutic benefit.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Phosphines, Arsines, and Stibines. There are now chiral phosphine-transition metal catalysts that rival enzymes in their efficiency for the asymmetric synthesis of important chiral drugs, fragrants, cosmetics, nutrients, vitamins, and pesticides. This project is aimed at a generalised asymmetric synthesis of the critical components of these enzyme mimics, notably enantiopure chiral phosphines, but also chiral arsines and stibines, by a highly innovative approach t ....Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Phosphines, Arsines, and Stibines. There are now chiral phosphine-transition metal catalysts that rival enzymes in their efficiency for the asymmetric synthesis of important chiral drugs, fragrants, cosmetics, nutrients, vitamins, and pesticides. This project is aimed at a generalised asymmetric synthesis of the critical components of these enzyme mimics, notably enantiopure chiral phosphines, but also chiral arsines and stibines, by a highly innovative approach that involves novel six-electron phosphenium, arsenium, and stibinium cations that are themselves stabilised by chiral phosphines so that chemical breeder reactions are possible. The use of chiral auxiliaries from the natural pool and from biotechnology will also be investigated.Read moreRead less
Quantum-chemical design of stereoregular polyphosphines for nanowires. In this project we will be designing and producing stereoregular polyphosphines that can self-assemble gold and silver complexes that mimic the molecular architectures of DNA and certain proteins. The longer gold complexes will behave as insulated nanowires, and are an exciting prospect for the development of nanotechnological devices. The shorter silver and gold complexes are expected to have significant antitumour propertie ....Quantum-chemical design of stereoregular polyphosphines for nanowires. In this project we will be designing and producing stereoregular polyphosphines that can self-assemble gold and silver complexes that mimic the molecular architectures of DNA and certain proteins. The longer gold complexes will behave as insulated nanowires, and are an exciting prospect for the development of nanotechnological devices. The shorter silver and gold complexes are expected to have significant antitumour properties. This project, which will use a unique theoretical-experimental approach to design the stereoregular polyphosphines, will enhance Australia's international scientific reputation, and will contribute to technological advancement in the national priority areas of nanotechnology and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Towards Nano-circuits: 2 and 3-Dimensional Carbon-Wired Nano-architectures. Whilst Australia has a world-class profile in organotransition metal chemistry, main-group chemistry is under-represented, despite the enormous technological importance of materials based on these elements. In addition to the fundamental breakthrough science to be explored, the project will provide a training vehicle for 5 young scientists in both main group and organometallic chemistry. The target compounds involve an e ....Towards Nano-circuits: 2 and 3-Dimensional Carbon-Wired Nano-architectures. Whilst Australia has a world-class profile in organotransition metal chemistry, main-group chemistry is under-represented, despite the enormous technological importance of materials based on these elements. In addition to the fundamental breakthrough science to be explored, the project will provide a training vehicle for 5 young scientists in both main group and organometallic chemistry. The target compounds involve an essentially unique marriage of the fields of main-group and transition metal chemistry to provide complex nano-architectures based on the modular interconnection of metals and non-metals by carbon wires at the molecular level - nanoscopic counterparts of macroscopic circuit components.Read moreRead less
Understanding and Harnessing the Unique and Curious Metal Boron Bond: Unlocking the Metallaboratrane Cage. Metal-boron bonding holds enormous technological importance due to the emergence of boron-based metal-mediated synthetic transformations that access a diversity of high value-added fine chemicals. Whilst Australia boasts an emergent boron-based fine chemicals industry, no research program into the nature of metal boron bonding exists to provide either fundamental science or advanced trainin ....Understanding and Harnessing the Unique and Curious Metal Boron Bond: Unlocking the Metallaboratrane Cage. Metal-boron bonding holds enormous technological importance due to the emergence of boron-based metal-mediated synthetic transformations that access a diversity of high value-added fine chemicals. Whilst Australia boasts an emergent boron-based fine chemicals industry, no research program into the nature of metal boron bonding exists to provide either fundamental science or advanced training in organometallic boron chemistry. The proposed work offers two distinct national benefits: The maintenance of a discipline in which Australia leads the world (metallaboratranes) and the genesis of one, which whilst intensely studied elsewhere, is notably absent from the Australian science base (low coordinate, unsaturated boron chemistry).Read moreRead less
Supramolecular Rip-n-Sew - New Computational Tools for Modelling Supermolecules. This project will develop new computational tools for predicting the chemical behaviour of large molecular and supramolecular systems with an accuracy and efficiency that has not previously been possible. It will also increase our mechanistic understanding of the principles governing supramolecular assembly in chemical and biological systems. This will enable cost and time savings in the design of advanced material ....Supramolecular Rip-n-Sew - New Computational Tools for Modelling Supermolecules. This project will develop new computational tools for predicting the chemical behaviour of large molecular and supramolecular systems with an accuracy and efficiency that has not previously been possible. It will also increase our mechanistic understanding of the principles governing supramolecular assembly in chemical and biological systems. This will enable cost and time savings in the design of advanced materials in the medical and agricultural contexts.Read moreRead less
Metallaboratranes: Soft Scorpionates and Masked Metal Bases. All molecular metal compounds involve a metal surrounded by a group of electron donors (?ligands?). The design and manipulation of these ligand sets and their interactions with metals (?coordination chemistry?) underpins ALL applications of metals, be they in biological, pharmaceutical, materials or industrial applications. This proposal addresses the diametric opposite - the role-reversal wherein a metal centre acts as an electron don ....Metallaboratranes: Soft Scorpionates and Masked Metal Bases. All molecular metal compounds involve a metal surrounded by a group of electron donors (?ligands?). The design and manipulation of these ligand sets and their interactions with metals (?coordination chemistry?) underpins ALL applications of metals, be they in biological, pharmaceutical, materials or industrial applications. This proposal addresses the diametric opposite - the role-reversal wherein a metal centre acts as an electron donor to a ligand. This rare situation has only recently been firmly established in this research group, but promises to be part of a wider new coordination chemistry, the limits of which will be pursued in the proposed work.Read moreRead less
Electrical properties of human dendrites. This project aims to determine the electrical properties of dendrites in human neurons. Dendrites are the primary site of synaptic input to neurons and their electrical properties play a key role in information processing in the brain. While we know much about the electrical properties of dendrites in other species, primarily rodents, little is known about the electrical properties of human dendrites. This project aims to address this gap in knowledge fo ....Electrical properties of human dendrites. This project aims to determine the electrical properties of dendrites in human neurons. Dendrites are the primary site of synaptic input to neurons and their electrical properties play a key role in information processing in the brain. While we know much about the electrical properties of dendrites in other species, primarily rodents, little is known about the electrical properties of human dendrites. This project aims to address this gap in knowledge for the first time. The results obtained will shed light on the mechanisms the brain uses to process information, and therefore will bring us a step closer to truly understanding ourselves.Read moreRead less
Metal Complexes for Activation and Scission of Small, Multiply-Bonded Molecules. The immediate outcome of this work is a series of new metal complexes capable of selectively cleaving the strong bonds present in a number of small molecules of industrial and synthetic importance. These outcomes will have a significant impact on the development of both novel transition metal systems for synthetic chemistry and new industrial procedures for the activation and cleavage of multiply-bonded molecules su ....Metal Complexes for Activation and Scission of Small, Multiply-Bonded Molecules. The immediate outcome of this work is a series of new metal complexes capable of selectively cleaving the strong bonds present in a number of small molecules of industrial and synthetic importance. These outcomes will have a significant impact on the development of both novel transition metal systems for synthetic chemistry and new industrial procedures for the activation and cleavage of multiply-bonded molecules such as molecular nitrogen and carbon dioxide. They will lead to new consumer products, better methods of production, and potential downstream applications such as nitric oxide/nitrogen dioxide converters and carbon dioxide emission controls.Read moreRead less