A new route to linear alpha olefins - catalytic isomerisation of internal olefins. Linear alpha olefins are an extremely important class of chemical building blocks used for everyday consumer products, such as plastics, detergents and lubricants. This research aims to develop a new platform technology for the production of these materials from low cost precursors.
Boron Nitrogen Isostere-Doped Organometallics for Molecular Electronics. The challenge of connecting two or more metals by a single chain of carbon atoms attracts intense study, thereby mimicking electronic circuitry at the molecular level. BN-Isosteric compounds involve selectively replacing (doping) carbon atoms with the elements boron (B) and nitrogen (N). These unprecedented materials should emulate and likely exceed the properties of all-carbon systems. This project aims to design and s .... Boron Nitrogen Isostere-Doped Organometallics for Molecular Electronics. The challenge of connecting two or more metals by a single chain of carbon atoms attracts intense study, thereby mimicking electronic circuitry at the molecular level. BN-Isosteric compounds involve selectively replacing (doping) carbon atoms with the elements boron (B) and nitrogen (N). These unprecedented materials should emulate and likely exceed the properties of all-carbon systems. This project aims to design and synthesise the first molecular BN-isosteric carbon-wire materials including examples based on metal-carbon multiple bonding. Expected outcomes beyond their isolation include high-level interrogation of the structure-function behaviour of their electrical and optical properties relevant to the technologies that will emerge.Read moreRead less
Signature of vibrational motions encoded into small polyatomic spectra. Using revolutionary state-of-the-art spectrometers, the project plans to search for signatures of large-amplitude vibrational motions that transform one chemical species to another. Bond-breaking chemical reactions necessarily involve highly vibrationally excited reactants and/or products that move the energy of the system away from equilibrium. It is now possible for direct measurements to be made of the changes that a mole ....Signature of vibrational motions encoded into small polyatomic spectra. Using revolutionary state-of-the-art spectrometers, the project plans to search for signatures of large-amplitude vibrational motions that transform one chemical species to another. Bond-breaking chemical reactions necessarily involve highly vibrationally excited reactants and/or products that move the energy of the system away from equilibrium. It is now possible for direct measurements to be made of the changes that a molecule undergoes as it transits across a chemical potential energy barrier. The project plans to examine the long-standing problem of vinylidene-acetylene isomerisation in order to verify the long-suspected existence of large amplitude vibrational motion in small molecules, which are thought to be the signatures of a particular class of chemical dynamics. These would provide a rational basis for future control of unimolecular chemical reactions.Read moreRead less
Nano-reactors: Protein cages as reusable scaffolds for designer enzymes. This project aims to develop robust protein cages derived from the coats of viruses to contain heat-stable P450 enzymes, for use as specialised protein bio-catalysts in chemical industries. A valuable chemical precursor of renewable bio-plastics will be produced from seed oils by enzymes, reducing the use of fossil fuels. This synthetic biology approach combines biotechnology, nanotechnology and protein engineering to estab ....Nano-reactors: Protein cages as reusable scaffolds for designer enzymes. This project aims to develop robust protein cages derived from the coats of viruses to contain heat-stable P450 enzymes, for use as specialised protein bio-catalysts in chemical industries. A valuable chemical precursor of renewable bio-plastics will be produced from seed oils by enzymes, reducing the use of fossil fuels. This synthetic biology approach combines biotechnology, nanotechnology and protein engineering to establish a plant-based platform biotechnology for using enzymes as catalysts to make high-value molecules. The project aims to show how to engineer clean, sustainable chemistry in designer nano-environments. This should make synthetic processes more sustainable and enhance advanced chemical manufacturing in Australia.Read moreRead less
Generation and exploitation of novel fermentation products in the synthesis of biologically active organic compounds with therapeutic potential. Collections of new micro-organisms and their metabolites suitable for use in the synthesis of potential therapeutic agents will be established. The combined application of molecular biological, microbiological and chemical synthesis techniques in a concerted manner in the one location will lead to major new opportunities for Australian industry.
Boron and silicon based pincer ligands for environmentally responsible catalysis. The production of everyday chemicals (pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, polymers) comes at a price, economic and environmental. Metal catalysts significantly reduce the environmental impact of both the associated energy requirements and waste products. New classes of catalysts will be developed based on the unconventional elements boron and silicon.