Supramolecular assembly in photovoltaic electrode design: Studies of ordered porphyrin/acceptor complexes on polythiophene electrodes. This research outlines an improved way to develop dye-sensitised photovoltaic solar cells for the conversion of sunlight into electricity, by increasing the molecular order of the cell components using host, guest interrelationships. As such, it addresses a problem of international concern 'How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stop global warming?' since s ....Supramolecular assembly in photovoltaic electrode design: Studies of ordered porphyrin/acceptor complexes on polythiophene electrodes. This research outlines an improved way to develop dye-sensitised photovoltaic solar cells for the conversion of sunlight into electricity, by increasing the molecular order of the cell components using host, guest interrelationships. As such, it addresses a problem of international concern 'How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stop global warming?' since solar cells do not produce carbon dioxide. To achieve our goals we draw on the skills of a team of experts from Australia (synthetic organic chemists), New Zealand (polymer and surface chemists) and Italy (photochemist and photophysicist). Such research is very appropriate for regional Australia, especially Central Queensland.Read moreRead less
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.
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
Anion receptors with high selectivity in aqueous environments. This project aims to develop neutral anion receptors that can bind to anions such as chloride and sulphate both selectively and strongly in water and transport them across membranes. These receptors have uses in the environment and medicine. Available receptors are limited to organic solvents or cannot discriminate between anions. This project will design hydrogen bonding motifs and incorporate them into water-soluble macrocycles tai ....Anion receptors with high selectivity in aqueous environments. This project aims to develop neutral anion receptors that can bind to anions such as chloride and sulphate both selectively and strongly in water and transport them across membranes. These receptors have uses in the environment and medicine. Available receptors are limited to organic solvents or cannot discriminate between anions. This project will design hydrogen bonding motifs and incorporate them into water-soluble macrocycles tailored to complement the size and shape of target anions. This project will provide innovative technologies for the detection of anionic species in areas including environmental (e.g. monitoring of sulphate levels in wastewater) and biomedical applications (e.g. detection of chloride concentrations in blood).Read moreRead less
Novel organic architectures and functional materials from tropylium ions. This project aims to develop new synthetic applications of tropylium ions, as versatile building blocks, to access a broad range of organic structures that used to be difficult and problematic to synthesise. The non-benzenoid aromatic tropylium ion exhibits a unique combination of structural stability and chemical reactivity. This project expects to use tropylium ions as chromophores to derive novel ‘push-and-pull’ organic ....Novel organic architectures and functional materials from tropylium ions. This project aims to develop new synthetic applications of tropylium ions, as versatile building blocks, to access a broad range of organic structures that used to be difficult and problematic to synthesise. The non-benzenoid aromatic tropylium ion exhibits a unique combination of structural stability and chemical reactivity. This project expects to use tropylium ions as chromophores to derive novel ‘push-and-pull’ organic dyes with highly applicable physicochemical properties.This will provide access to a family of novel complex organic structures in a new chemical space, as well as new materials for opto-electronic and sensing applications, respectively.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100517
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Organocatalysis: A New Horizon for Synthesis of Organic Structures. The current technologies to synthesise organic substances, an important part of human life, often involve the use of excess amounts of reagents or precious and toxic metal catalysts, which incur high production costs and severe environmental impact. This project aims to use organocatalysis, chemical processes catalysed by stable, small, easily accessible, non-metallic organic compounds, to find a solution for these issues. Novel ....Organocatalysis: A New Horizon for Synthesis of Organic Structures. The current technologies to synthesise organic substances, an important part of human life, often involve the use of excess amounts of reagents or precious and toxic metal catalysts, which incur high production costs and severe environmental impact. This project aims to use organocatalysis, chemical processes catalysed by stable, small, easily accessible, non-metallic organic compounds, to find a solution for these issues. Novel organocatalytic methods will be designed and developed in order to promote environmentally friendly, highly efficient and selective chemical procedures for low cost production of laboratory organic substances and application in the industrial synthesis of potential agrochemicals and medicinal agents.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
The Baylis-Hillman Reaction: Asymmetric Organocatalysis and Applications. Many drugs come in two chiral mirror images (enantiomers) where the therapeutic effect is usually associated with only one while the other has no effect or can be harmful as was the case with thalidomide. Chemical reactions that yield just the desired mirror image, or enantiomer, and not the other are therefore in great demand and heavily pursued by the pharmaceutical, fine chemical and materials industries as a frontier ....The Baylis-Hillman Reaction: Asymmetric Organocatalysis and Applications. Many drugs come in two chiral mirror images (enantiomers) where the therapeutic effect is usually associated with only one while the other has no effect or can be harmful as was the case with thalidomide. Chemical reactions that yield just the desired mirror image, or enantiomer, and not the other are therefore in great demand and heavily pursued by the pharmaceutical, fine chemical and materials industries as a frontier technology. This project will result in the development of novel catalytic reactions that allow the synthesis of chiral chemicals in a cost-efficient and green manner needed by many industries, and also training of students with highly desirable synthetic skills to lead the next wave in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.Read moreRead less