An Integrated Synthetic and NMR Spectroscopic Study of Photochemical Organometallic Bond Activation. Modifications of alkanes and related processes under study will occupy the heart of next generation catalysed chemical processes that may ultimately be used globally on a vast scale. A detailed knowledge of mechanism is the precursor to rational design and improvement of catalysed processes, making them more efficient and greener. This will allow better usage of Australia's natural gas and preci ....An Integrated Synthetic and NMR Spectroscopic Study of Photochemical Organometallic Bond Activation. Modifications of alkanes and related processes under study will occupy the heart of next generation catalysed chemical processes that may ultimately be used globally on a vast scale. A detailed knowledge of mechanism is the precursor to rational design and improvement of catalysed processes, making them more efficient and greener. This will allow better usage of Australia's natural gas and precious metal resources and benefit local chemical companies. Specialized new NMR technology that will greatly aid a wide range of local researchers will be developed to facilitate these studies. The researchers of the future will also be trained.Read moreRead less
Photodissociation Dynamics of Radicals and Molecules. Photodissociation dynamics involves studying fundamental chemical processes that underpin all chemical reactivity. We address three of the important unanswered questions in this field: i) how do the lessons learned from small molecules transfer to larger molecules? ii) can one control chemical reactivity by selecting specific states of the reactant?; and iii) are the dynamics of radicals fundamentally different to stable molecules? We wi ....Photodissociation Dynamics of Radicals and Molecules. Photodissociation dynamics involves studying fundamental chemical processes that underpin all chemical reactivity. We address three of the important unanswered questions in this field: i) how do the lessons learned from small molecules transfer to larger molecules? ii) can one control chemical reactivity by selecting specific states of the reactant?; and iii) are the dynamics of radicals fundamentally different to stable molecules? We will combine expertise in large molecule spectroscopy and photodissociation dynamics with technology in radical production to provide insight into these fundamental questions. Photodissociation dynamics is firmly embedded in photon science and technology.Read moreRead less
Molecular signatures of complex photodissociation reactions. All energy on earth comes from the sun, either directly (e.g photosynthesis) or indirectly (e.g fossil fuels). Photochemistry is the study of how this light is absorbed and what happens to a molecule afterwards. Despite significant experimental and theoretical advances in the past decade (some in our lab), scientists still cannot predict the outcomes of most photochemical reactions. In this project we will determine the reactivity o ....Molecular signatures of complex photodissociation reactions. All energy on earth comes from the sun, either directly (e.g photosynthesis) or indirectly (e.g fossil fuels). Photochemistry is the study of how this light is absorbed and what happens to a molecule afterwards. Despite significant experimental and theoretical advances in the past decade (some in our lab), scientists still cannot predict the outcomes of most photochemical reactions. In this project we will determine the reactivity of several small, fundamental organic molecules. Not only are these molecules pollutants around our cities, but discovery of how they react in the presence of light will allow us to understand and predict the photochemistry of a much wider range of organic species.Read moreRead less