Development of New Materials Based on Multinuclear Ruthenium Complexes. The program aims to design new materials for use in applications such as catalysis and light-activated devices (including light harvesting or solar energy conversion), for the detection and analysis of specific small molecules and anions of particular interest, and to provide an insight to the operation of biological systems such as metal-containing enzymes. The particular molecules will also be investigated for the developm ....Development of New Materials Based on Multinuclear Ruthenium Complexes. The program aims to design new materials for use in applications such as catalysis and light-activated devices (including light harvesting or solar energy conversion), for the detection and analysis of specific small molecules and anions of particular interest, and to provide an insight to the operation of biological systems such as metal-containing enzymes. The particular molecules will also be investigated for the development of a new type of therapeutic agent for the treatment of a range of diseases, with a particular interest in this work on a drug for the treatment of HIV-AIDS. Read moreRead less
Understanding biological nitrogen fixation: an investigation of multi-electron reduction catalysis at novel iron-sulfur clusters. A new class of iron-sulfur clusters held together by a central light atom will be prepared and their reactions thoroughly studied. These clusters are important because they will have the same structure as the iron-molybdenum cluster of the enzyme nitrogenase. This enzyme fixes atmospheric nitrogen as ammonia. It is the primary route of nitrogen entry into all living s ....Understanding biological nitrogen fixation: an investigation of multi-electron reduction catalysis at novel iron-sulfur clusters. A new class of iron-sulfur clusters held together by a central light atom will be prepared and their reactions thoroughly studied. These clusters are important because they will have the same structure as the iron-molybdenum cluster of the enzyme nitrogenase. This enzyme fixes atmospheric nitrogen as ammonia. It is the primary route of nitrogen entry into all living systems. Industrially ammonia is produced in an energy-demanding process on a vast scale. The studies will provide insights into how nitrogenase works and how to design new multi-electron reduction catalysts. The research may lead to new energy-efficient routes to ammonia and to other new alternative fuel sources. Such processes would transform Australian industry and how we live.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
Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions. The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted coordination polymers with ....Coordination networks based on carbonate and related ions. The very familiar carbonate ion will be put to use to generate a very unfamiliar family of new coordination polymers with geometries and topologies of fundamental structural significance. Carbonate's ability to bring associated metal centres into close communication may lead to unusual and possibly useful electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targeted coordination polymers with predetermined properties or functions would make possible diverse applications of great practical value; the project will contribute significantly to the basis for such capabilities leading to ?designer materials? of the future.Read moreRead less
Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Chemically Active Reaction Sites. Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering are two related areas of chemistry which examine the way molecules can come together to form larger structures. Usually, however, the aggregations formed are chemically inert, limiting the scope of their potential applications. This project aims to design and synthesise such assemblies that are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions after assembly. The ....Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Chemically Active Reaction Sites. Supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering are two related areas of chemistry which examine the way molecules can come together to form larger structures. Usually, however, the aggregations formed are chemically inert, limiting the scope of their potential applications. This project aims to design and synthesise such assemblies that are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions after assembly. The realisation of these aims will give new routes to the production of new catalysts (analogous to enzymes in biological systems), nanoscale molecular sieves, molecular sensors, or materials that show unusual host-guest chemistryRead moreRead less
Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Potential Post-Assembly Chemical Activity. Two areas of chemistry currently receiving a great deal of attention are supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. However, in the majority of these systems, once synthesised the assemblies are chemically inert. This project aims to assemble supramolecules and coordination polymers which are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions. Such systems show potential as new heterogeneous or h ....Coordination Networks and Supramolecules with Potential Post-Assembly Chemical Activity. Two areas of chemistry currently receiving a great deal of attention are supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. However, in the majority of these systems, once synthesised the assemblies are chemically inert. This project aims to assemble supramolecules and coordination polymers which are capable of actively participating in chemical reactions. Such systems show potential as new heterogeneous or homogeneous catalysts, selective molecular sieves, or show unusual host-guest chemistry. Techniques developed will provide a means by which present homogeneous catalysts used widely in industry could be converted into heterogeneous species. This would have many benefits, including improved recovery and re-use of catalysts.Read moreRead less
Advanced Materials constructed from 'Nanoballs' and Variable Length Ligands. Novel types of porous materials will be made using a revolutionary new way to connect metal ions. Remarkable nanometer sized molecules ('nanoballs') will be investigated for their unprecedented variety of useful properties. As well as advancing our understanding of the science of advanced materials, this project will have application in areas such as hydrogen and methane storage, trapping of greenhouse gases such as car ....Advanced Materials constructed from 'Nanoballs' and Variable Length Ligands. Novel types of porous materials will be made using a revolutionary new way to connect metal ions. Remarkable nanometer sized molecules ('nanoballs') will be investigated for their unprecedented variety of useful properties. As well as advancing our understanding of the science of advanced materials, this project will have application in areas such as hydrogen and methane storage, trapping of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, molecular sensing, catalysis, and information storage.Read moreRead less
Coordination Polymers and Oligomers. Routes are proposed to real chemical examples of both finite nets (polyhedral cages) and infinite nets (coordination polymers); very similar synthetic strategies are to be used in both areas. The icosahedral cages proposed including the unknown C60N60 are without precedent. If they can be made they will rival or surpass the fullerenes in impact and in potential applications. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targetted coordination polymers wit ....Coordination Polymers and Oligomers. Routes are proposed to real chemical examples of both finite nets (polyhedral cages) and infinite nets (coordination polymers); very similar synthetic strategies are to be used in both areas. The icosahedral cages proposed including the unknown C60N60 are without precedent. If they can be made they will rival or surpass the fullerenes in impact and in potential applications. The ability to deliberately engineer specifically targetted coordination polymers with predetermined properties or functions would make possible diverse applications of great practical value; the project will contribute significantly to the basis for such capablities leading to "designer materials" of the future.Read moreRead less
Reactive Coordination Polymers and Supramolecules. Large discrete or infinite assemblies of molecules will be designed and produced by self-assembly processes. Through careful design of the precursors, these nano-sized assemblies will be chemically reactive. The new techniques pioneered in this study will allow the design of new advanced materials, such as homogeneous multicentre catalysts (analogous to biological enzymes), industrially important heterogeneous catalysts, nanoscale molecular siev ....Reactive Coordination Polymers and Supramolecules. Large discrete or infinite assemblies of molecules will be designed and produced by self-assembly processes. Through careful design of the precursors, these nano-sized assemblies will be chemically reactive. The new techniques pioneered in this study will allow the design of new advanced materials, such as homogeneous multicentre catalysts (analogous to biological enzymes), industrially important heterogeneous catalysts, nanoscale molecular sieves, molecular sensors and switches, or materials that show unusual host-guest chemistry.Read moreRead less
DNA Nanoshuttles: A New Class of DNA-Binding Molecules. The interaction of molecules with DNA, the molecule that controls genetic information, is fundamental to drug design, diagnosis of disease and the environment. DNA-nanoshuttles are ring-shaped molecules that thread onto DNA and shuttle from one end to the other. This threading interaction is without precedent and hence DNA-nanoshuttles have significant potential applications in all areas of medicine, biotechnology and nanotechnology that in ....DNA Nanoshuttles: A New Class of DNA-Binding Molecules. The interaction of molecules with DNA, the molecule that controls genetic information, is fundamental to drug design, diagnosis of disease and the environment. DNA-nanoshuttles are ring-shaped molecules that thread onto DNA and shuttle from one end to the other. This threading interaction is without precedent and hence DNA-nanoshuttles have significant potential applications in all areas of medicine, biotechnology and nanotechnology that involve DNA interactions. This research may lead to the design of new diagnostics and applications that will benefit the Australian community, and will provide excellent training of researchers in skills required for employment in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical fields.Read moreRead less