Studies of metal compounds containing carbon chains - approaches to novel materials. There is an increasing need to design functional devices on the molecular scale ("nanotechnology"). We are developing the chemistry of compounds which contain chains of up to 12 carbon atoms to allow electronic communication between metal centres attached to each end. This projects seeks to extend this work, to discover new and more effective compounds, and to develop the associated chemistry to provide synthese ....Studies of metal compounds containing carbon chains - approaches to novel materials. There is an increasing need to design functional devices on the molecular scale ("nanotechnology"). We are developing the chemistry of compounds which contain chains of up to 12 carbon atoms to allow electronic communication between metal centres attached to each end. This projects seeks to extend this work, to discover new and more effective compounds, and to develop the associated chemistry to provide syntheses of novel compounds of potential use in the fine chemicals industry. Extensive collaboration with French colleagues exists and will continue.Read moreRead less
All-carbon molecules in metal complexes - novel materials and intermediates. An important requirement for the future is new materials with unusual properties that can be controlled. The need for ever smaller electronic devices requires knowledge about appropriate properties (particularly electronic) of molecules designed to model devices such as wires, switches, etc. This work seeks to design, measure and evaluate such molecules, which are based on chains of carbon atoms linking metal centres ....All-carbon molecules in metal complexes - novel materials and intermediates. An important requirement for the future is new materials with unusual properties that can be controlled. The need for ever smaller electronic devices requires knowledge about appropriate properties (particularly electronic) of molecules designed to model devices such as wires, switches, etc. This work seeks to design, measure and evaluate such molecules, which are based on chains of carbon atoms linking metal centres which can gain or lose electrons readily. As the electronic structure changes, so do the physical (photo, solid-state) and chemical properties (reactivity). Improved understanding of these features will benefit development of advanced technology and new materials.Read moreRead less
Development of an Adjustable Porphyrin-based Molecular Platform for Nanotechnology Applications. Nanotechnology, the art of molecular control, is often heralded as the next industrial revolution. For this to be realised, the construction of useful devices will require precise control at the molecular level. Our control is realised through a process called self-assembly which means that the once the components of the device are correctly designed, the device will simply be able to put itself tog ....Development of an Adjustable Porphyrin-based Molecular Platform for Nanotechnology Applications. Nanotechnology, the art of molecular control, is often heralded as the next industrial revolution. For this to be realised, the construction of useful devices will require precise control at the molecular level. Our control is realised through a process called self-assembly which means that the once the components of the device are correctly designed, the device will simply be able to put itself together. This research will use nature's light harvesting elements, namely porphyrins, and our ability to precisely control their position with respect to each other to build new, more efficient solar cells.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.
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.
The fate of dietary selenium in vivo; a direct approach to linking chemical form with biological activity. Dietary selenium supplementation has great potential as a preventative treatment for a range of human health conditions, including cancer, that widely affect the Australian population. However, the adverse effects of such treatments are not fully recognised. This project will increase our knowledge of how selenium compounds are stored and utilised in the body and relate the information to c ....The fate of dietary selenium in vivo; a direct approach to linking chemical form with biological activity. Dietary selenium supplementation has great potential as a preventative treatment for a range of human health conditions, including cancer, that widely affect the Australian population. However, the adverse effects of such treatments are not fully recognised. This project will increase our knowledge of how selenium compounds are stored and utilised in the body and relate the information to clinical observations regarding dietary intake of selenium and other compounds. The new understanding generated will delineate the conditions for safe intake, so that the beneficial effects associated with selenium supplementation may be harnessed more effectively.Read moreRead less
Universal immunogenic reagents for the detection of latent fingermarks. This project will deliver the first antibody reagents for the routine detection of natural fingermarks. This will assist law enforcement agencies to provide a safer society through improved crime clearance, as they will be able to enhance and detect fingermarks that otherwise remain undetected with current techniques (e.g. fingermarks on human skin).
Development of Pyrrolopyrimidines as Inhibitors of ATP-Binding Proteins. This project seeks to generate analogues of natural products that have been found to be active against cancer cells and tropical parasites. The new materials produced by this project will aid in the study of biochemical processes involved in diseases such as cancer and lymphatic filariasis, thus leading the way to development of these compounds as potential treatments for such diseases.
Preparation and properties of oligo- and polycyclophanes. Materials with advanced optical and electronic properties. This project aims to prepare a novel class of organic and organometallic material that has both theoretical and practical applications. Nanotechnology requires unique arrangements of atoms that can give rise to enhanced macroscopic properties and we have embarked on a project that will provide new oligomers and polymers for the construction of the next generation of optical and el ....Preparation and properties of oligo- and polycyclophanes. Materials with advanced optical and electronic properties. This project aims to prepare a novel class of organic and organometallic material that has both theoretical and practical applications. Nanotechnology requires unique arrangements of atoms that can give rise to enhanced macroscopic properties and we have embarked on a project that will provide new oligomers and polymers for the construction of the next generation of optical and electronic devices.Read moreRead less
Synthetic and theoretical studies of metal complexes containing carbon-rich ligands. Previous studies in my group, in conjunction with synthetic and theoretical chemistry groups at the Université de Rennes 1, France, have delineated the properties of a series of complexes containing carbon chains linking two metal centres. Having achieved a partial understanding of the features which result in good electronic communication between the metal centres via the carbon chain, the present proposal see ....Synthetic and theoretical studies of metal complexes containing carbon-rich ligands. Previous studies in my group, in conjunction with synthetic and theoretical chemistry groups at the Université de Rennes 1, France, have delineated the properties of a series of complexes containing carbon chains linking two metal centres. Having achieved a partial understanding of the features which result in good electronic communication between the metal centres via the carbon chain, the present proposal seeks to extend this collaboration to further studies which will generate related compounds in which actual eletron exchange can occur, i.e. leading to oxidation/reduction, by using compounds in which two or more different metal centres are present. This may lead to development of nano devices, e.g. molecular-scale switches. If one of the centres is activated by light, a photo-active sensor may result.Read moreRead less