Photoinduced Palladium Catalysis for Next Generation C-H Bond Activation. This project aims to discover new methods for the conversion of carbon-hydrogen bonds in organic molecules as a general strategy in chemical synthesis. A key conceptual advance in this project is the unification of transition metal catalysis and visible light as a powerful tool to activate these traditionally unreactive, yet abundant chemical bonds in alkanes. With application in fields that range from fine chemical produc ....Photoinduced Palladium Catalysis for Next Generation C-H Bond Activation. This project aims to discover new methods for the conversion of carbon-hydrogen bonds in organic molecules as a general strategy in chemical synthesis. A key conceptual advance in this project is the unification of transition metal catalysis and visible light as a powerful tool to activate these traditionally unreactive, yet abundant chemical bonds in alkanes. With application in fields that range from fine chemical production to drug discovery, the overarching aim of this research is to establish new carbon-hydrogen bond activation reactions and to demonstrate that this strategy can be translated to the invention of new pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and advanced synthetic materials that will have societal impact.Read moreRead less
Next Generation Photocatalysis for Chemical Synthesis and Manufacture. This project aims to discover new methods for the activation of energy demanding bonds in organic molecules as a general strategy in chemical synthesis. A key conceptual advance in this project is the development of multiphoton photoredox catalysis as a powerful tool to activate traditionally unreactive, yet abundant chemical bonds in organic molecules including C-H bonds in alkane and olefin feedstocks. With application in f ....Next Generation Photocatalysis for Chemical Synthesis and Manufacture. This project aims to discover new methods for the activation of energy demanding bonds in organic molecules as a general strategy in chemical synthesis. A key conceptual advance in this project is the development of multiphoton photoredox catalysis as a powerful tool to activate traditionally unreactive, yet abundant chemical bonds in organic molecules including C-H bonds in alkane and olefin feedstocks. With application in fields that range from fine chemical production to drug discovery, the overarching aim of this research is to establish new bond activation reactions and to demonstrate translations to the invention of new pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and advanced chemical manufacturing processes that will have societal impact.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100664
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,847.00
Summary
Pushing the limits of electronic delocalization in organic molecules. This project aims to uncover the factors which control how molecules delocalize electrons in 1, 2, and 3 dimensions. Electronic delocalization is essential for many applications of molecular materials, such as light-harvesting and energy storage, but it remains poorly understood. The expected outcomes of this project include new highly-conductive molecules, transferrable knowledge about aromaticity, and design principles for f ....Pushing the limits of electronic delocalization in organic molecules. This project aims to uncover the factors which control how molecules delocalize electrons in 1, 2, and 3 dimensions. Electronic delocalization is essential for many applications of molecular materials, such as light-harvesting and energy storage, but it remains poorly understood. The expected outcomes of this project include new highly-conductive molecules, transferrable knowledge about aromaticity, and design principles for future organic materials. The expected benefits flow from the foundational nature of this research: pi-conjugated organic molecules have many potential uses, including: sensors (e.g. for environmental monitoring), solar cells, and OLED screens, and this project is expected to improve these technologies and industries.Read moreRead less
Data Driven Discovery of New Catalysts for Asymmetric Synthesis. This project aims to discover new catalytic strategies for the synthesis of valuable nitrogen-containing molecules. An innovative approach combining statistical modelling techniques and chemical synthesis tactics will be used to establish a unique platform for predictable catalyst design that significantly accelerates the discovery process. As a result, new organometallic catalysts that efficiently convert simple and readily access ....Data Driven Discovery of New Catalysts for Asymmetric Synthesis. This project aims to discover new catalytic strategies for the synthesis of valuable nitrogen-containing molecules. An innovative approach combining statistical modelling techniques and chemical synthesis tactics will be used to establish a unique platform for predictable catalyst design that significantly accelerates the discovery process. As a result, new organometallic catalysts that efficiently convert simple and readily accessible chemical building blocks into complex chiral amine derivatives in a safer and more cost effective manner will be identified. These new catalytic strategies will be of significant utility, enabling the invention and more sustainable manufacture of agrochemicals, life-saving medicines, and functional materials.Read moreRead less
New Horizons in Quinonedimethide Chemistry. Quinonedimethides (QDMs) are organic molecules with a notorious reputation for instability, hence they are poorly understood and an underexploited resource. This project will unite the ideally suited computational and experimental skills of the CIs to perform the first thorough investigation into fundamental QDM chemistry. It aims to map structure-reactivity in QDMs, investigate their ability to rapidly generate complex structures, and demonstrate thei ....New Horizons in Quinonedimethide Chemistry. Quinonedimethides (QDMs) are organic molecules with a notorious reputation for instability, hence they are poorly understood and an underexploited resource. This project will unite the ideally suited computational and experimental skills of the CIs to perform the first thorough investigation into fundamental QDM chemistry. It aims to map structure-reactivity in QDMs, investigate their ability to rapidly generate complex structures, and demonstrate their potential in spintronics and other applications. Anticipated outcomes include powerful and general new synthetic concepts, methods, strategies and tactics. This should provide significant benefits, such as better ways to manufacture important medicines and other materials.Read moreRead less
Emergent organocopper complexes as robust catalysts for electrosynthesis. The capture and stabilisation of highly reactive chemical species is critical to making advances in the synthesis of novel materials, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Metal-bound carbanions are essential components of carbon-carbon bond forming reactions. This project aims to develop an unprecedented family of copper catalysts and deliver an innovative and versatile chemical reactivity platform. Expected outcomes of this ....Emergent organocopper complexes as robust catalysts for electrosynthesis. The capture and stabilisation of highly reactive chemical species is critical to making advances in the synthesis of novel materials, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Metal-bound carbanions are essential components of carbon-carbon bond forming reactions. This project aims to develop an unprecedented family of copper catalysts and deliver an innovative and versatile chemical reactivity platform. Expected outcomes of this project include methods of tempering and unleashing the high reactivity of these species by controlling the oxidation state of the copper ion. Benefits of these outcomes include fundamental understanding of the reactivity of a new class of copper complex that has potential commercial applications in catalysis.Read moreRead less
Solar-Driven C-H Functionalization Reactions. This project aims to investigate the functionalization reaction of unreactive C-H bonds using light as the source of energy. Light is a transformative change to synthesis as thermal activation is exchanged to solar activation. The latter gives access to excited state chemistry and enables reaction steps that are thermally inaccessible. It is a key strategy to leverage synthesis to the demands of the 21st century and to minimise its ecologic footprint ....Solar-Driven C-H Functionalization Reactions. This project aims to investigate the functionalization reaction of unreactive C-H bonds using light as the source of energy. Light is a transformative change to synthesis as thermal activation is exchanged to solar activation. The latter gives access to excited state chemistry and enables reaction steps that are thermally inaccessible. It is a key strategy to leverage synthesis to the demands of the 21st century and to minimise its ecologic footprint. At the same time this strategy provides a lever to profoundly impact and drive new concepts in synthesis. Significant benefits are expected, such as increase in fundamental knowledge on photochemical processes, but also the access to new materials for applications as drugs or OLEDs.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100449
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,600.00
Summary
Diversity Oriented Clicking - Streamlined Synthesis of Molecular Frameworks. Innovation in synthetic chemistry drives the discovery of new life-changing drugs, agrochemicals and functional materials. This project aims to use a novel chemical concept, termed Diversity Oriented Clicking, for new sustainable and streamlined synthetic transformations. The new chemical processes are expected to deliver improved economy, efficiency and precision in the synthesis of bioactive molecules and functional m ....Diversity Oriented Clicking - Streamlined Synthesis of Molecular Frameworks. Innovation in synthetic chemistry drives the discovery of new life-changing drugs, agrochemicals and functional materials. This project aims to use a novel chemical concept, termed Diversity Oriented Clicking, for new sustainable and streamlined synthetic transformations. The new chemical processes are expected to deliver improved economy, efficiency and precision in the synthesis of bioactive molecules and functional materials 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 synthetic routes to diverse complex molecules can be greatly streamlined, and reducing chemical waste and required purification.Read moreRead less
Site-specific protein functionalisation at diselenides via photocatalysis . This project aims to develop a new photocatalytic reaction for the on demand functionalisation of proteins. The synthetic methodology will solve a major technological gap in the field by enabling efficient access to proteins with defined modifications at specific locations. Functionalised proteins generated in the project will underpin a detailed understanding of how specific modifications influence the structure and fun ....Site-specific protein functionalisation at diselenides via photocatalysis . This project aims to develop a new photocatalytic reaction for the on demand functionalisation of proteins. The synthetic methodology will solve a major technological gap in the field by enabling efficient access to proteins with defined modifications at specific locations. Functionalised proteins generated in the project will underpin a detailed understanding of how specific modifications influence the structure and function of several important proteins. The project will generate significant new knowledge in the fields of chemistry and biology and will foster interdisciplinary collaboration, nationally and internationally. The breakthrough technology also has the potential to benefit Australia’s biotechnology sector.Read moreRead less
Sulfur-based materials for infrared optics and thermal imaging. This project aims to investigate novel sulfur polymers for use in infrared optics and thermal imaging. Current thermal imaging lenses are made in energy-intensive processes from expensive semiconductors and toxic chalcogenide glasses. In contrast, highly abundant elemental sulfur can be converted into polymers that are highly transparent to mid- and long-wave infrared light, providing a promising low-cost alternative. In developing ....Sulfur-based materials for infrared optics and thermal imaging. This project aims to investigate novel sulfur polymers for use in infrared optics and thermal imaging. Current thermal imaging lenses are made in energy-intensive processes from expensive semiconductors and toxic chalcogenide glasses. In contrast, highly abundant elemental sulfur can be converted into polymers that are highly transparent to mid- and long-wave infrared light, providing a promising low-cost alternative. In developing this technology, expected outcomes include novel methods to manufacture polymers from low-cost sulfur and their use as lenses for thermal imaging. Significant benefits are expected, such as access to low-cost, recyclable materials for thermal imaging required in surveillance, diagnostics, and spectroscopy.Read moreRead less