Earth Abundant Metal Complexes for Nitrogen Activation. This project aims to develop a range of complexes based around earth abundant metals that are capable of activating nitrogen (N2) at ambient pressure and temperature. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of organometallic chemistry, specifically with regards to molecular metal-metal bonding and subsequent reactivity towards the activation of nitrogen. The activation of atmospheric nitrogen is performed on a multi-millio ....Earth Abundant Metal Complexes for Nitrogen Activation. This project aims to develop a range of complexes based around earth abundant metals that are capable of activating nitrogen (N2) at ambient pressure and temperature. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of organometallic chemistry, specifically with regards to molecular metal-metal bonding and subsequent reactivity towards the activation of nitrogen. The activation of atmospheric nitrogen is performed on a multi-million tonne scale each year and is key to a number of industrial processes. As such, investigations into new and improved catalysts for this process would potentially bring huge financial benefits to industry, as well as benefiting the environment by reducing energy demand and associated climate change.Read moreRead less
Self-assembled supramolecular cages for guest binding and catalysis. This project aims to construct a family of supramolecular metal-containing cage-shaped molecules that possess specialised binding pockets with unique chemical properties that mimic enzymes. Many existing cage molecules contain well-defined three dimensional cavities reminiscent of enzymes' active sites. However, unlike natural systems they do not contain "active" metals with free coordination sites, and this limits their cataly ....Self-assembled supramolecular cages for guest binding and catalysis. This project aims to construct a family of supramolecular metal-containing cage-shaped molecules that possess specialised binding pockets with unique chemical properties that mimic enzymes. Many existing cage molecules contain well-defined three dimensional cavities reminiscent of enzymes' active sites. However, unlike natural systems they do not contain "active" metals with free coordination sites, and this limits their catalytic ability. This project aims to prepare a large family of robust organic cages quickly and easily, and subsequently incorporate metals containing free active sites that point into the cage cavity. It is expected that this will deliver strong and selective guest binding, and efficient and selective catalysis.Read moreRead less
Next generation supramolecular frameworks. This project aims to prepare new supramolecular frameworks assembled by hydrogen or halogen bonds. It is anticipated that this work will increase fundamental understanding of supramolecular self-assembly processes and the dynamic processes that are possible within these rearrangeable systems. The project aims to prepare a family of related frameworks, which will allow a detailed comparison of the stability, porosity and biotechnological applicability of ....Next generation supramolecular frameworks. This project aims to prepare new supramolecular frameworks assembled by hydrogen or halogen bonds. It is anticipated that this work will increase fundamental understanding of supramolecular self-assembly processes and the dynamic processes that are possible within these rearrangeable systems. The project aims to prepare a family of related frameworks, which will allow a detailed comparison of the stability, porosity and biotechnological applicability of new supramolecular materials. The expected outcomes are the development of lightweight and benign organic systems that will have applications in the removal of toxic organic and heavy metal pollutants from water, and in the encapsulation and stabilisation of catalytically-active enzymes.Read moreRead less
Boryl Pincers and Beyond: Taming Borometallic Chemistry. Industrial applications of coordination complexes in catalysis reduce energy input and environmental impact but almost exclusively involve classical donors such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. Boron, whilst prevalent and environmentally benign, is under-utilised in such applications, in part due to the high reactivity of the metal boron bond.
This research will seek to tame and then exploit the unique features of boron within p ....Boryl Pincers and Beyond: Taming Borometallic Chemistry. Industrial applications of coordination complexes in catalysis reduce energy input and environmental impact but almost exclusively involve classical donors such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. Boron, whilst prevalent and environmentally benign, is under-utilised in such applications, in part due to the high reactivity of the metal boron bond.
This research will seek to tame and then exploit the unique features of boron within pincer ligand frameworks in metal coordination complexes, with particular attention focusing on, but not limited to catalytic alkyne metathesis.Read moreRead less
Mixed-Metal Clusters for Catalysis and Optical Applications. This project aims to afford new heterometallic molecular materials as precursors to catalysts and as new optical materials, exploiting oxophilic and carbophilic transition metal atoms for synergistic cooperation in certain catalytic processes, and using the polarity of heterometallic bonds to achieve strong optical limiting. Expected outcomes of this project include cluster structure/composition - catalysis/optical properties correlati ....Mixed-Metal Clusters for Catalysis and Optical Applications. This project aims to afford new heterometallic molecular materials as precursors to catalysts and as new optical materials, exploiting oxophilic and carbophilic transition metal atoms for synergistic cooperation in certain catalytic processes, and using the polarity of heterometallic bonds to achieve strong optical limiting. Expected outcomes of this project include cluster structure/composition - catalysis/optical properties correlations that will signpost the route to efficient catalysts and optical limiters. This Project should provide significant benefits such as chemoselective catalysts needed for pharmaceutical drug and agricultural chemical production, and broad temporal range optical limiters needed for optical device protection.Read moreRead less
New Horizons in Quinonedimethide Chemistry. Quinonedimethides (QDMs) are organic molecules with a notorious reputation for instability, hence they are poorly understood and an underexploited resource. This project will unite the ideally suited computational and experimental skills of the CIs to perform the first thorough investigation into fundamental QDM chemistry. It aims to map structure-reactivity in QDMs, investigate their ability to rapidly generate complex structures, and demonstrate thei ....New Horizons in Quinonedimethide Chemistry. Quinonedimethides (QDMs) are organic molecules with a notorious reputation for instability, hence they are poorly understood and an underexploited resource. This project will unite the ideally suited computational and experimental skills of the CIs to perform the first thorough investigation into fundamental QDM chemistry. It aims to map structure-reactivity in QDMs, investigate their ability to rapidly generate complex structures, and demonstrate their potential in spintronics and other applications. Anticipated outcomes include powerful and general new synthetic concepts, methods, strategies and tactics. This should provide significant benefits, such as better ways to manufacture important medicines and other materials.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100065
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,808.00
Summary
Designing Organocatalysts to Achieve Hyperpolarised Magnetic Resonance. Magnetic resonance techniques (such as MRI scans) suffer from an inherent insensitivity problem. In medical imaging, this can hamper diagnosis and mean long scan times for patients. This project aims to chemically develop catalysts which dramatically increase sensitivity, producing a signal that is thousands of times more visible. This project is significant as these catalysts can turn common, harmless molecules in the body ....Designing Organocatalysts to Achieve Hyperpolarised Magnetic Resonance. Magnetic resonance techniques (such as MRI scans) suffer from an inherent insensitivity problem. In medical imaging, this can hamper diagnosis and mean long scan times for patients. This project aims to chemically develop catalysts which dramatically increase sensitivity, producing a signal that is thousands of times more visible. This project is significant as these catalysts can turn common, harmless molecules in the body - even water - into visible tracers. The expected outcomes of this project include the synthesis and understanding of these catalysts which will be chemically fine-tuned to maximise their effectiveness. Potential benefits include translation to MRI applications to improve diagnosis and treatment, or chemical monitoring.Read moreRead less
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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100450
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,398.00
Summary
Cooperativity by Design: Unlocking Metal-Metal-Ligand Cooperativity. This proposal aims to deliver efficient chemical hydrogen storage by designing new catalysts to facilitate the storage and release of hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen is an important zero-emission fuel for the low carbon energy future. However, to realise the potential of the hydrogen economy, efficient, cost-effective solutions are required for storage and transportation. This project seeks to provide technological and intellectual adv ....Cooperativity by Design: Unlocking Metal-Metal-Ligand Cooperativity. This proposal aims to deliver efficient chemical hydrogen storage by designing new catalysts to facilitate the storage and release of hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen is an important zero-emission fuel for the low carbon energy future. However, to realise the potential of the hydrogen economy, efficient, cost-effective solutions are required for storage and transportation. This project seeks to provide technological and intellectual advances in chemical hydrogen storage methods. These outcomes are expected to provide environmental and economic benefits for Australia’s developing hydrogen economy, both in the energy export market and locally in utilisation of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100421
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$427,116.00
Summary
A New Breed of Metallosupramolecular Assembly. Self-assembly is the ready formation of complex structures from simple components. Nature uses this to generate its most impressive molecular machinery to carry out complex tasks. Metallosupramolecular chemists combine simple components (metal ions and organic ligands) to create synthetic variants to fulfil similar roles. Current methods have limitations, and this project aims to create a new structural type: large and controllably variable metallo- ....A New Breed of Metallosupramolecular Assembly. Self-assembly is the ready formation of complex structures from simple components. Nature uses this to generate its most impressive molecular machinery to carry out complex tasks. Metallosupramolecular chemists combine simple components (metal ions and organic ligands) to create synthetic variants to fulfil similar roles. Current methods have limitations, and this project aims to create a new structural type: large and controllably variable metallo-foldamers (structures consisting of metal ions and ligands that coil like DNA). As well as benefiting fundamental knowledge, these molecules will be functional. They are expected to improve performance with enhanced outcomes in photophysical, photochemical, catalytic, and sensing applications.Read moreRead less