Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100462
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$364,975.00
Summary
Molecular complexity through multi-bond forming reactions. This project aims to develop techniques for the synthesis of many, highly valuable natural and designed molecules which are too complex to be synthesised on scale with current methodologies. The project aims to develop new strategies for the simultaneous construction of several chemical bonds, with a focus on molecular scaffolds that can be readily converted into pharmaceuticals, potential drug candidates, chiral ligands, and agrochemica ....Molecular complexity through multi-bond forming reactions. This project aims to develop techniques for the synthesis of many, highly valuable natural and designed molecules which are too complex to be synthesised on scale with current methodologies. The project aims to develop new strategies for the simultaneous construction of several chemical bonds, with a focus on molecular scaffolds that can be readily converted into pharmaceuticals, potential drug candidates, chiral ligands, and agrochemicals. This will ultimately lead to advancements in both the production and application of organic molecules in these fields.Read moreRead less
Metallosupramolecular Cages for Enantioselective Applications. The project aims to explore new synthetic routes to functional supramolecular cages/containers which are able to selectively host small molecules in their interior space, and may provide feedback upon the presence of a guest (i.e. molecular sensing) or catalyse reactions within the enclosed cavity. The project expects to produce chiral cages that are capable of detecting specific enantiomers in solution and act upon them. The expecte ....Metallosupramolecular Cages for Enantioselective Applications. The project aims to explore new synthetic routes to functional supramolecular cages/containers which are able to selectively host small molecules in their interior space, and may provide feedback upon the presence of a guest (i.e. molecular sensing) or catalyse reactions within the enclosed cavity. The project expects to produce chiral cages that are capable of detecting specific enantiomers in solution and act upon them. The expected outcome is a deeper understanding of the structure/property relationship of these novel species and steps towards application. This should provide benefits given the application of solution-based methods for enantioselective sensing/catalysis are of significance in high-value pharmaceutical synthesis.Read moreRead less
Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Phosphines, Arsines, and Stibines. There are now chiral phosphine-transition metal catalysts that rival enzymes in their efficiency for the asymmetric synthesis of important chiral drugs, fragrants, cosmetics, nutrients, vitamins, and pesticides. This project is aimed at a generalised asymmetric synthesis of the critical components of these enzyme mimics, notably enantiopure chiral phosphines, but also chiral arsines and stibines, by a highly innovative approach t ....Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Phosphines, Arsines, and Stibines. There are now chiral phosphine-transition metal catalysts that rival enzymes in their efficiency for the asymmetric synthesis of important chiral drugs, fragrants, cosmetics, nutrients, vitamins, and pesticides. This project is aimed at a generalised asymmetric synthesis of the critical components of these enzyme mimics, notably enantiopure chiral phosphines, but also chiral arsines and stibines, by a highly innovative approach that involves novel six-electron phosphenium, arsenium, and stibinium cations that are themselves stabilised by chiral phosphines so that chemical breeder reactions are possible. The use of chiral auxiliaries from the natural pool and from biotechnology will also be investigated.Read moreRead less
Quantum-chemical design of stereoregular polyphosphines for nanowires. In this project we will be designing and producing stereoregular polyphosphines that can self-assemble gold and silver complexes that mimic the molecular architectures of DNA and certain proteins. The longer gold complexes will behave as insulated nanowires, and are an exciting prospect for the development of nanotechnological devices. The shorter silver and gold complexes are expected to have significant antitumour propertie ....Quantum-chemical design of stereoregular polyphosphines for nanowires. In this project we will be designing and producing stereoregular polyphosphines that can self-assemble gold and silver complexes that mimic the molecular architectures of DNA and certain proteins. The longer gold complexes will behave as insulated nanowires, and are an exciting prospect for the development of nanotechnological devices. The shorter silver and gold complexes are expected to have significant antitumour properties. This project, which will use a unique theoretical-experimental approach to design the stereoregular polyphosphines, will enhance Australia's international scientific reputation, and will contribute to technological advancement in the national priority areas of nanotechnology and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Towards Nano-circuits: 2 and 3-Dimensional Carbon-Wired Nano-architectures. Whilst Australia has a world-class profile in organotransition metal chemistry, main-group chemistry is under-represented, despite the enormous technological importance of materials based on these elements. In addition to the fundamental breakthrough science to be explored, the project will provide a training vehicle for 5 young scientists in both main group and organometallic chemistry. The target compounds involve an e ....Towards Nano-circuits: 2 and 3-Dimensional Carbon-Wired Nano-architectures. Whilst Australia has a world-class profile in organotransition metal chemistry, main-group chemistry is under-represented, despite the enormous technological importance of materials based on these elements. In addition to the fundamental breakthrough science to be explored, the project will provide a training vehicle for 5 young scientists in both main group and organometallic chemistry. The target compounds involve an essentially unique marriage of the fields of main-group and transition metal chemistry to provide complex nano-architectures based on the modular interconnection of metals and non-metals by carbon wires at the molecular level - nanoscopic counterparts of macroscopic circuit components.Read moreRead less
Heterobimetallic Coordination Complexes Containing Rare Earth and d-Block Ions. Rare earth compounds have major industrial applications such as MRI contrast agents and as catalysts within the rubber and petroleum industries. The fundamental knowledge ensuing from this project has the potential to produce new and advanced magnetic materials. Nanotechnological industries are being developed in Australia and this research will provide materials with the capacity to act as optical or electrical sw ....Heterobimetallic Coordination Complexes Containing Rare Earth and d-Block Ions. Rare earth compounds have major industrial applications such as MRI contrast agents and as catalysts within the rubber and petroleum industries. The fundamental knowledge ensuing from this project has the potential to produce new and advanced magnetic materials. Nanotechnological industries are being developed in Australia and this research will provide materials with the capacity to act as optical or electrical switches, magnetic storage devices or molecular sensors. This pioneering work will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of chemical research within the rapidly advancing field of magnetochemistry.Read moreRead less
Understanding and Harnessing the Unique and Curious Metal Boron Bond: Unlocking the Metallaboratrane Cage. Metal-boron bonding holds enormous technological importance due to the emergence of boron-based metal-mediated synthetic transformations that access a diversity of high value-added fine chemicals. Whilst Australia boasts an emergent boron-based fine chemicals industry, no research program into the nature of metal boron bonding exists to provide either fundamental science or advanced trainin ....Understanding and Harnessing the Unique and Curious Metal Boron Bond: Unlocking the Metallaboratrane Cage. Metal-boron bonding holds enormous technological importance due to the emergence of boron-based metal-mediated synthetic transformations that access a diversity of high value-added fine chemicals. Whilst Australia boasts an emergent boron-based fine chemicals industry, no research program into the nature of metal boron bonding exists to provide either fundamental science or advanced training in organometallic boron chemistry. The proposed work offers two distinct national benefits: The maintenance of a discipline in which Australia leads the world (metallaboratranes) and the genesis of one, which whilst intensely studied elsewhere, is notably absent from the Australian science base (low coordinate, unsaturated boron chemistry).Read moreRead less
Metallaboratranes: Soft Scorpionates and Masked Metal Bases. All molecular metal compounds involve a metal surrounded by a group of electron donors (?ligands?). The design and manipulation of these ligand sets and their interactions with metals (?coordination chemistry?) underpins ALL applications of metals, be they in biological, pharmaceutical, materials or industrial applications. This proposal addresses the diametric opposite - the role-reversal wherein a metal centre acts as an electron don ....Metallaboratranes: Soft Scorpionates and Masked Metal Bases. All molecular metal compounds involve a metal surrounded by a group of electron donors (?ligands?). The design and manipulation of these ligand sets and their interactions with metals (?coordination chemistry?) underpins ALL applications of metals, be they in biological, pharmaceutical, materials or industrial applications. This proposal addresses the diametric opposite - the role-reversal wherein a metal centre acts as an electron donor to a ligand. This rare situation has only recently been firmly established in this research group, but promises to be part of a wider new coordination chemistry, the limits of which will be pursued in the proposed work.Read moreRead less
Luminophores and photochromes: towards molecular componentry. This project aims to enhance current knowledge of luminogenic and photochromic molecules, including self-assembled structures, and materials composed thereof, by constructing a computationally guided compound library. Translation of primary outcomes towards utility in emerging technologies including passive light harvesting from transparent surfaces, bio-sensors and photo-responsive devices will be pursued in collaboration with both a ....Luminophores and photochromes: towards molecular componentry. This project aims to enhance current knowledge of luminogenic and photochromic molecules, including self-assembled structures, and materials composed thereof, by constructing a computationally guided compound library. Translation of primary outcomes towards utility in emerging technologies including passive light harvesting from transparent surfaces, bio-sensors and photo-responsive devices will be pursued in collaboration with both academia and industry. The expected outcomes from this project include the creation of opportunities to explore the manufacture and commercialisation of high-value products with Australian industry. This will provide significant benefits, such as reduction in the carbon footprint of homes, businesses and other applicable structures due to passive power generation, while creating jobs and up-skilling the workforce.Read moreRead less
Borametallacycles: confluence of metallacycle and boracycle chemistries. Metallacycles are cyclic structures constructed from a transition metal and the first row elements, such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. They underpin numerous technological applications in catalysis and materials chemistry. Borametallacycles which include the missing element boron will be explored with a view to developing new materials with novel properties.