Hydrogen atom abstraction and addition via proton coupled electron transfer. To prepare new chemicals for the challenges of today, and those in the future, new ways to build materials are needed. These need to deliver maximum complexity (necessary for increasingly sophisticated applications) with minimal economic and environmental cost. In this proposal a family of reactions that are possible using light mediated chemistry will be developed. This approach will allow technologies to be discovered ....Hydrogen atom abstraction and addition via proton coupled electron transfer. To prepare new chemicals for the challenges of today, and those in the future, new ways to build materials are needed. These need to deliver maximum complexity (necessary for increasingly sophisticated applications) with minimal economic and environmental cost. In this proposal a family of reactions that are possible using light mediated chemistry will be developed. This approach will allow technologies to be discovered that will enhance the scientific communities ability to deliver materials designed for a wide array of functions from medicinal chemistry, through to materials science. Read moreRead less
New catalytic alkyne cyclisation strategies for complex molecule synthesis. This project aims to realise new and efficient catalytic chemistry for carbocyclic and heterocyclic synthesis, an immensely important compound family due to their synthetic, biological and material applications. This would be shown by providing new sustainable solutions that minimise resources use and waste production urgently demanded by industry and society to lessen the ecological impact of chemical manufacturing. Exp ....New catalytic alkyne cyclisation strategies for complex molecule synthesis. This project aims to realise new and efficient catalytic chemistry for carbocyclic and heterocyclic synthesis, an immensely important compound family due to their synthetic, biological and material applications. This would be shown by providing new sustainable solutions that minimise resources use and waste production urgently demanded by industry and society to lessen the ecological impact of chemical manufacturing. Expected outcomes include new materials and chemical processes giving Australian industry and academia the cutting-edge in research competitiveness and capacity. This should provide major benefits such as training the next generation of Australian synthetic chemists and wealth creation by supporting the chemical sciences.Read moreRead less
Photoinduced Palladium Catalysis for Next Generation C-H Bond Activation. This project aims to discover new methods for the conversion of carbon-hydrogen bonds in organic molecules as a general strategy in chemical synthesis. A key conceptual advance in this project is the unification of transition metal catalysis and visible light as a powerful tool to activate these traditionally unreactive, yet abundant chemical bonds in alkanes. With application in fields that range from fine chemical produc ....Photoinduced Palladium Catalysis for Next Generation C-H Bond Activation. This project aims to discover new methods for the conversion of carbon-hydrogen bonds in organic molecules as a general strategy in chemical synthesis. A key conceptual advance in this project is the unification of transition metal catalysis and visible light as a powerful tool to activate these traditionally unreactive, yet abundant chemical bonds in alkanes. With application in fields that range from fine chemical production to drug discovery, the overarching aim of this research is to establish new carbon-hydrogen bond activation reactions and to demonstrate that this strategy can be translated to the invention of new pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and advanced synthetic materials that will have societal impact.Read moreRead less
A new molecular platform for catalytic synthesis of heterocycles. This project aims to address the lack of efficient methods to prepare cyclic molecules of biological relevance by utilising novel molecular platforms developed in our laboratories. This project expects to generate new cyclic molecules using these innovative molecular platforms by employing catalysts to reduce raw material and energy cost. The expected outcomes of this project include enhanced chemical technology to prepare cyclic ....A new molecular platform for catalytic synthesis of heterocycles. This project aims to address the lack of efficient methods to prepare cyclic molecules of biological relevance by utilising novel molecular platforms developed in our laboratories. This project expects to generate new cyclic molecules using these innovative molecular platforms by employing catalysts to reduce raw material and energy cost. The expected outcomes of this project include enhanced chemical technology to prepare cyclic molecules of pharmaceutical importance and the training of highly skilled PhD students. This should provide significant benefits, such as increased capacity for the development of new pharmaceuticals and advanced materials.Read moreRead less
Thioamide ligations: new technologies for peptide and protein synthesis. This project aims to develop novel amide-bond forming reactions for the chemical synthesis of peptides and proteins. New peptide ligation strategies, including an asparagine-based ligation and a residue-independent ligation will be developed that exploit the recent discovery of silver-promoted coupling reactions of thioamides. A novel late-stage, chemo-selective assembly of N-glycosylated asparagine residues in peptides and ....Thioamide ligations: new technologies for peptide and protein synthesis. This project aims to develop novel amide-bond forming reactions for the chemical synthesis of peptides and proteins. New peptide ligation strategies, including an asparagine-based ligation and a residue-independent ligation will be developed that exploit the recent discovery of silver-promoted coupling reactions of thioamides. A novel late-stage, chemo-selective assembly of N-glycosylated asparagine residues in peptides and proteins will also be developed. The outcomes of this research will lead to breakthroughs in synthetic methodologies for the assembly and functionalisation of peptides and proteins, thereby enabling access to a range of homogeneous, post translationally modified proteins though total chemical synthesis. These research outcomes will expand Australia's research capability and global competitiveness in the field of biotechnology, delivering significant benefits to the third largest manufacturing sector in Australia.Read moreRead less
Polarity inversion of conjugate acceptors: New opportunities in catalysis. Conjugate acceptors are common chemicals that are readily available from petrochemical and biomass feedstocks. While they are used extensively to build functional materials, including polymers and medicines, the reactions that they can engage in are largely limited to those exploiting their natural reactivity. In this project, catalysis will be used to allow these ubiquitous building blocks to react in entirely new ways. ....Polarity inversion of conjugate acceptors: New opportunities in catalysis. Conjugate acceptors are common chemicals that are readily available from petrochemical and biomass feedstocks. While they are used extensively to build functional materials, including polymers and medicines, the reactions that they can engage in are largely limited to those exploiting their natural reactivity. In this project, catalysis will be used to allow these ubiquitous building blocks to react in entirely new ways. In doing so new chemical reactions will be discovered that convert simple building blocks into sophisticated fine chemicals. The potential utility of the products is diverse and will enable future applications in fields focused on the preparation of functional materials. Read moreRead less
Lessons From Nature: Late Stage Oxidation in Total Synthesis. This project aims to achieve the chemical synthesis of a number of biologically active novel natural products. The key aspect is the application of chemistry inspired by Nature to deliver molecular complexity in a rapid fashion which would allow for the production of molecules otherwise unavailable in sufficient quantities from the natural sources. This research will utilize late stage oxidation of intermediates to provide ready acces ....Lessons From Nature: Late Stage Oxidation in Total Synthesis. This project aims to achieve the chemical synthesis of a number of biologically active novel natural products. The key aspect is the application of chemistry inspired by Nature to deliver molecular complexity in a rapid fashion which would allow for the production of molecules otherwise unavailable in sufficient quantities from the natural sources. This research will utilize late stage oxidation of intermediates to provide ready access to complex molecules. The main goal is the development of new chemical and biological catalysts for further application in organic synthesis with a view to the production of new medicinal agents and important materials.Read moreRead less
Data Driven Discovery of New Catalysts for Asymmetric Synthesis. This project aims to discover new catalytic strategies for the synthesis of valuable nitrogen-containing molecules. An innovative approach combining statistical modelling techniques and chemical synthesis tactics will be used to establish a unique platform for predictable catalyst design that significantly accelerates the discovery process. As a result, new organometallic catalysts that efficiently convert simple and readily access ....Data Driven Discovery of New Catalysts for Asymmetric Synthesis. This project aims to discover new catalytic strategies for the synthesis of valuable nitrogen-containing molecules. An innovative approach combining statistical modelling techniques and chemical synthesis tactics will be used to establish a unique platform for predictable catalyst design that significantly accelerates the discovery process. As a result, new organometallic catalysts that efficiently convert simple and readily accessible chemical building blocks into complex chiral amine derivatives in a safer and more cost effective manner will be identified. These new catalytic strategies will be of significant utility, enabling the invention and more sustainable manufacture of agrochemicals, life-saving medicines, and functional materials.Read moreRead less
Control of immune recognition and response by microbial metabolites. This project aims to study immune recognition of microbial metabolites and develop reagents to control immune responses. Chemical synthesis will be used to develop new antigens for unconventional T cells and the first soluble agonists and antagonists of a glycolipid-sensing immune receptor. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new immune effectors, broadening our knowledge of the repertoire of small molecules that can be ....Control of immune recognition and response by microbial metabolites. This project aims to study immune recognition of microbial metabolites and develop reagents to control immune responses. Chemical synthesis will be used to develop new antigens for unconventional T cells and the first soluble agonists and antagonists of a glycolipid-sensing immune receptor. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new immune effectors, broadening our knowledge of the repertoire of small molecules that can be sensed by the immune system, and developing chemical approaches to promote or dampen immune responses. Major benefits include research training in chemical biology, strengthened international linkages and fundamental insights into the chemical basis of immune recognition and response.Read moreRead less
Advanced separators for lithium-sulphur batteries. This project aims to develop new membranes for use as separators in lithium-sulphur batteries. Currently diffusion of polysulphides within these batteries reduces battery power and lifetime. The new membranes are intended to block polysulphide diffusion over an extended lifetime, while transporting the other ions needed for the battery to function. The project is expected to generate new membrane materials and further knowledge about the design, ....Advanced separators for lithium-sulphur batteries. This project aims to develop new membranes for use as separators in lithium-sulphur batteries. Currently diffusion of polysulphides within these batteries reduces battery power and lifetime. The new membranes are intended to block polysulphide diffusion over an extended lifetime, while transporting the other ions needed for the battery to function. The project is expected to generate new membrane materials and further knowledge about the design, synthesis and larger-scale production of membranes for electrochemical applications. This project will provide significant benefits by producing potentially lighter, longer-lasting and cheaper batteries than existing lithium-ion technologies, with the potential to accelerate the adoption of electric cars.Read moreRead less