New Horizons in Diels-Alder Chemistry. Using a unique joint experimental-computational approach, we will develop reliable ways to predict the outcome of one of the most important chemical reactions. Practical applications of these new predictive tools will be developed involving powerful new versions of the reaction. Several different classes of biologically active natural products will be prepared including molecules with antitumor and antiretroviral activities. Libraries of structurally-relate ....New Horizons in Diels-Alder Chemistry. Using a unique joint experimental-computational approach, we will develop reliable ways to predict the outcome of one of the most important chemical reactions. Practical applications of these new predictive tools will be developed involving powerful new versions of the reaction. Several different classes of biologically active natural products will be prepared including molecules with antitumor and antiretroviral activities. Libraries of structurally-related analogues of natural compounds will be synthesised for biological evaluation.Read moreRead less
Experimental and Computational Investigations into Enantioselective Domino Sequences. This research program aims to develop more efficient methods for the chemical synthesis of organic substances: the materials that make up all known life forms, our medicines, and many designed materials. This research involves primarily the invention of new, enabling science. Specifically, we are trying to develop new and very general strategies to make organic compounds selectively and more efficiently than be ....Experimental and Computational Investigations into Enantioselective Domino Sequences. This research program aims to develop more efficient methods for the chemical synthesis of organic substances: the materials that make up all known life forms, our medicines, and many designed materials. This research involves primarily the invention of new, enabling science. Specifically, we are trying to develop new and very general strategies to make organic compounds selectively and more efficiently than before. A more efficient chemical synthesis means less waste, lower energy consumption and less environmental impact. Research of this kind is absolutely essential for the development of new medicines and materials. Australia lags behind many of the world's developed countries in this very important area of endeavour.Read moreRead less
Experimental-Computational Investigations into Diels-Alder Sequences. Organic molecules are an integral part of our world - in us, around us and, importantly, in our medicines. Chemists design experiments to make specific molecules by mixing the appropriate chemicals. Often, however, the outcome can't be predicted. We are developing ways to accurately predict these outcomes using computer modelling of chemical reactions. This will allow us to better understand reactions and make molecules more e ....Experimental-Computational Investigations into Diels-Alder Sequences. Organic molecules are an integral part of our world - in us, around us and, importantly, in our medicines. Chemists design experiments to make specific molecules by mixing the appropriate chemicals. Often, however, the outcome can't be predicted. We are developing ways to accurately predict these outcomes using computer modelling of chemical reactions. This will allow us to better understand reactions and make molecules more efficiently. Such research is the basis for the development of new pharmaceuticals. Few people in Australia are working in this area and we expect to train four to six people during the course of this project.Read moreRead less
The Baylis-Hillman Reaction: Asymmetric Organocatalysis and Applications. Many drugs come in two chiral mirror images (enantiomers) where the therapeutic effect is usually associated with only one while the other has no effect or can be harmful as was the case with thalidomide. Chemical reactions that yield just the desired mirror image, or enantiomer, and not the other are therefore in great demand and heavily pursued by the pharmaceutical, fine chemical and materials industries as a frontier ....The Baylis-Hillman Reaction: Asymmetric Organocatalysis and Applications. Many drugs come in two chiral mirror images (enantiomers) where the therapeutic effect is usually associated with only one while the other has no effect or can be harmful as was the case with thalidomide. Chemical reactions that yield just the desired mirror image, or enantiomer, and not the other are therefore in great demand and heavily pursued by the pharmaceutical, fine chemical and materials industries as a frontier technology. This project will result in the development of novel catalytic reactions that allow the synthesis of chiral chemicals in a cost-efficient and green manner needed by many industries, and also training of students with highly desirable synthetic skills to lead the next wave in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Metal catalysed reactions in organic synthesis. The major aim of this project is to develop highly efficient metal-catalysed routes to pharmaceuticals, e.g. new antibiotics and other commercially important organic molecules.
Particular attention will be paid to developing systems which facilitate the addition of readily available, cheap small molecules, e.g. hydrogen and carbon monoxide, to unsaturated organic molecules with high regio- and stereoselectivity.
Worldwide demand for enantiomeric ....Metal catalysed reactions in organic synthesis. The major aim of this project is to develop highly efficient metal-catalysed routes to pharmaceuticals, e.g. new antibiotics and other commercially important organic molecules.
Particular attention will be paid to developing systems which facilitate the addition of readily available, cheap small molecules, e.g. hydrogen and carbon monoxide, to unsaturated organic molecules with high regio- and stereoselectivity.
Worldwide demand for enantiomerically pure chiral molecules (i.e. one mirror-image form) continues to rise. New metal-catalysed asymmetric syntheses will help meet this challenge. Tandem metal-catalysed reactions will be used to prepare new heterocyclic compounds with potential as specific metal binding agents and biosensors.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic and Methodology Based Total Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products. The proposal will study the synthesis of novel natural products that possess biological activities. Most significantly, this project will deliver compounds with anticancer activity. In addition, chemistry may be developed which could be utilised to synthesise a number of bioactive molecules. The rewards of the synthesis of compounds and application for the treatment of cancer and other diseases are enormous for the ....Biomimetic and Methodology Based Total Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products. The proposal will study the synthesis of novel natural products that possess biological activities. Most significantly, this project will deliver compounds with anticancer activity. In addition, chemistry may be developed which could be utilised to synthesise a number of bioactive molecules. The rewards of the synthesis of compounds and application for the treatment of cancer and other diseases are enormous for the community and in the education and training of scientists.Read moreRead less
Total Synthesis of Novel Metabolites form Microorganisms. The main aim of this proposal is to achieve the chemical synthesis of a number of biologically active novel natural products isolated from microorganisms. This will involve the development of new methods as well as improvement on exisiting approaches developed so far. The targets will include the myxobacteria metabolites crocacins A, B and D and apicularen A, the streptomyces metabolites reveromycin A and spirofungin A and the fungal meta ....Total Synthesis of Novel Metabolites form Microorganisms. The main aim of this proposal is to achieve the chemical synthesis of a number of biologically active novel natural products isolated from microorganisms. This will involve the development of new methods as well as improvement on exisiting approaches developed so far. The targets will include the myxobacteria metabolites crocacins A, B and D and apicularen A, the streptomyces metabolites reveromycin A and spirofungin A and the fungal metabolite zaragozic acid C.
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New synthetic strategies towards higher order fullerenes. Fullerene or C60 is a novel soccer-ball shaped molecule with many potential applications as new materials and pharmaceutical drugs. This project aims to develop novel methods for the preparation of new fullerene derivatives that will have potential future applications in materials science, medicinal/pharmaceutical chemistry and chemical synthesis.
Domino Approaches to Polycyclic Natural Products. Organic molecules are the basis of all known life forms. The majority of our medicinal agents are organic molecules. Organic molecules are made up of atoms, connected together by bonds. Usually, these molecules are constructed by making one bond at a time. We are trying to make this laborious job quicker and more efficient by forming lots of bonds at once. Research of this kind is the basis for the development of new pharmaceuticals. Australia do ....Domino Approaches to Polycyclic Natural Products. Organic molecules are the basis of all known life forms. The majority of our medicinal agents are organic molecules. Organic molecules are made up of atoms, connected together by bonds. Usually, these molecules are constructed by making one bond at a time. We are trying to make this laborious job quicker and more efficient by forming lots of bonds at once. Research of this kind is the basis for the development of new pharmaceuticals. Australia doesn't have many people who are able to do this kind of thing. We will train four to six people in this area of research.Read moreRead less