Metallosupramolecular Cages for Enantioselective Applications. The project aims to explore new synthetic routes to functional supramolecular cages/containers which are able to selectively host small molecules in their interior space, and may provide feedback upon the presence of a guest (i.e. molecular sensing) or catalyse reactions within the enclosed cavity. The project expects to produce chiral cages that are capable of detecting specific enantiomers in solution and act upon them. The expecte ....Metallosupramolecular Cages for Enantioselective Applications. The project aims to explore new synthetic routes to functional supramolecular cages/containers which are able to selectively host small molecules in their interior space, and may provide feedback upon the presence of a guest (i.e. molecular sensing) or catalyse reactions within the enclosed cavity. The project expects to produce chiral cages that are capable of detecting specific enantiomers in solution and act upon them. The expected outcome is a deeper understanding of the structure/property relationship of these novel species and steps towards application. This should provide benefits given the application of solution-based methods for enantioselective sensing/catalysis are of significance in high-value pharmaceutical synthesis.Read moreRead less
Advanced Molecular Frameworks for Sodium Battery Electrode Applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of high capacity sodium-ion insertion. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of an extensive family of materials this project expects to generate major advances in the understanding of how the chemical, physical and structural attributes of the materials relate to their electrical charge/discharge ....Advanced Molecular Frameworks for Sodium Battery Electrode Applications. This project aims to develop new molecular materials capable of high capacity sodium-ion insertion. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets the synthesis and detailed characterisation of an extensive family of materials this project expects to generate major advances in the understanding of how the chemical, physical and structural attributes of the materials relate to their electrical charge/discharge behaviours. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include the development of new material design approaches that optimise battery electrode performance across a diverse parameter space, and the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development in low-cost, large-scale battery applications.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the potential of multiphoton photoredox catalysis. Photoredox catalysis promises sustainable alternatives to synthesise high-value chemicals using energy converted from visible light. The project aims to address the current lack of understanding about how these reactions operate at the molecular level, using innovative electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The expected outcomes include new catalytic systems containing multiple light-driven steps that provide reactivities beyond ....Unlocking the potential of multiphoton photoredox catalysis. Photoredox catalysis promises sustainable alternatives to synthesise high-value chemicals using energy converted from visible light. The project aims to address the current lack of understanding about how these reactions operate at the molecular level, using innovative electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The expected outcomes include new catalytic systems containing multiple light-driven steps that provide reactivities beyond those attainable in single-photon cycles. These will be applied to challenging modifications of large biomolecules under mild aqueous conditions. Anticipated benefits include adding value to Australia’s growing chemical industry through efficient green syntheses with reduced dependence on toxic solvents.Read moreRead less
Metal-organic Framework (MOF) Superstructure Catalysts. The development of new catalyst technology is crucial to uncovering energy-efficient strategies for valorising chemicals. Although the designable pore networks of Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs) provide a highly favourable environment for heterogeneous catalysis, most stable MOF materials are microporous - possessing pores less than 2 nm - which hinders mass transport. This research will develop novel, hierarchically porous MOF superstruct ....Metal-organic Framework (MOF) Superstructure Catalysts. The development of new catalyst technology is crucial to uncovering energy-efficient strategies for valorising chemicals. Although the designable pore networks of Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs) provide a highly favourable environment for heterogeneous catalysis, most stable MOF materials are microporous - possessing pores less than 2 nm - which hinders mass transport. This research will develop novel, hierarchically porous MOF superstructures that will overcome these limitations and serve as platform materials for the development of new catalysts. This research will address future challenges in industrial catalysis and realise an important step towards the commercial application of MOF catalysis for valoriation of chemical feedstocks. Read moreRead less
Discovering New Chemistry and Potential Applications of Metal Tetrapyrroles. This project aims to make fundamental advances in inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry by preparing new metal-containing molecules based on specifically designed tetrapyrrole ligands. Innovative synthetic methods will be developed to enable systematic chemical modifications to explore the chemical and biological properties of the metal complexes. The potential of the new molecules to be ....Discovering New Chemistry and Potential Applications of Metal Tetrapyrroles. This project aims to make fundamental advances in inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry by preparing new metal-containing molecules based on specifically designed tetrapyrrole ligands. Innovative synthetic methods will be developed to enable systematic chemical modifications to explore the chemical and biological properties of the metal complexes. The potential of the new molecules to be of use as tracers for molecular imaging will be investigated. An expected outcome of this research will be an increased understanding of how chemical properties dictate the biological activity of metal complexes informing the potential long-term translation of this chemistry to to new molecular diagnostics and therapeutics.Read moreRead less
Pioneering stable copper carbanions for new C-C bond forming paradigms. The stabilisation of highly reactive carbanions underpins advances in chemical synthesis of new compounds including polymers, agrichemicals and pharmaceuticals. This project aims to deliver an innovative chemical reactivity platform, underpinned by copper carbanion complexes accessed via synthetic electrochemistry. Carbanions are essential components of carbon-carbon bond forming reactions but their high reactivity can be pr ....Pioneering stable copper carbanions for new C-C bond forming paradigms. The stabilisation of highly reactive carbanions underpins advances in chemical synthesis of new compounds including polymers, agrichemicals and pharmaceuticals. This project aims to deliver an innovative chemical reactivity platform, underpinned by copper carbanion complexes accessed via synthetic electrochemistry. Carbanions are essential components of carbon-carbon bond forming reactions but their high reactivity can be problematic. Expected outcomes of this project are an understanding of why these novel copper compounds are stable and how they can be utilised as synthetic reagents. This should provide significant benefits in unlocking the synthetic potential of a new class of chemical compound that has until now remained unexplored.Read moreRead less
Metal complexes for sustainable light-driven synthesis. The aim of this project is to use cheap, abundant transition metal ions and visible light to enable challenging synthetic chemical reactions. The significant problems addressed are that most synthetic reactions using visible light currently require expensive precious metals, and fundamental reaction pathways used by Nature remain inaccessible. Both of these problems limit the scope of synthetic applications. The outcomes will be new knowled ....Metal complexes for sustainable light-driven synthesis. The aim of this project is to use cheap, abundant transition metal ions and visible light to enable challenging synthetic chemical reactions. The significant problems addressed are that most synthetic reactions using visible light currently require expensive precious metals, and fundamental reaction pathways used by Nature remain inaccessible. Both of these problems limit the scope of synthetic applications. The outcomes will be new knowledge and sustainable technologies that can better harness visible light for useful synthetic chemistry applications. The benefits will be more efficient and cost-effective routes to valuable molecules ubiquitous in everyday life.Read moreRead less
Boryl Pincers and Beyond: Taming Borometallic Chemistry. Industrial applications of coordination complexes in catalysis reduce energy input and environmental impact but almost exclusively involve classical donors such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. Boron, whilst prevalent and environmentally benign, is under-utilised in such applications, in part due to the high reactivity of the metal boron bond.
This research will seek to tame and then exploit the unique features of boron within p ....Boryl Pincers and Beyond: Taming Borometallic Chemistry. Industrial applications of coordination complexes in catalysis reduce energy input and environmental impact but almost exclusively involve classical donors such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. Boron, whilst prevalent and environmentally benign, is under-utilised in such applications, in part due to the high reactivity of the metal boron bond.
This research will seek to tame and then exploit the unique features of boron within pincer ligand frameworks in metal coordination complexes, with particular attention focusing on, but not limited to catalytic alkyne metathesis.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100144
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$411,000.00
Summary
Rational design of light-emitting materials for lighting and displays. This project aims to solve the most pressing problem in organic light emitting diodes - the lack of highly efficient, phosphorescent blue emitters. The project expects to generate new understanding of energy loss mechanisms in such devices from multiscale quantum mechanical models, which describe the interaction of the emitter with its environment, and to design new materials via big data approaches. Expected outcomes include ....Rational design of light-emitting materials for lighting and displays. This project aims to solve the most pressing problem in organic light emitting diodes - the lack of highly efficient, phosphorescent blue emitters. The project expects to generate new understanding of energy loss mechanisms in such devices from multiscale quantum mechanical models, which describe the interaction of the emitter with its environment, and to design new materials via big data approaches. Expected outcomes include a fundamental understanding of non-radiative decay processes in organometallic complexes and more efficient lighting and display technologies. This project should provide significant benefits in reducing energy use, as lighting and displays consume around a quarter of the energy generated in developed countries.Read moreRead less
Emergent Behaviours in Spin Crossover Materials. This project aims to develop new molecular materials in which the incorporation of electronic switching leads to the emergence of fundamentally new chemical and physical phenomena. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets interesting new forms of interplay at the nanoscale this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of spin-switching materials. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits includ ....Emergent Behaviours in Spin Crossover Materials. This project aims to develop new molecular materials in which the incorporation of electronic switching leads to the emergence of fundamentally new chemical and physical phenomena. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets interesting new forms of interplay at the nanoscale this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of spin-switching materials. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include identification and development of several new classes of materials function, each of major fundamental interest, and to the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development in electronic device, actuator, sensor and gas separations technologies.Read moreRead less