ProfessorAlex Bissember

Project Total: $811,541; This project will prepare and study arcane organometallic reaction intermediates invoked in Nobel-Prize-winning metal-catalysed cross-coupling processes, many of which have yet to enter the synthetic realm. Confirming the structures of these fundamental species and better understanding their properties and interplay is crucial to designing new and improved catalysts and catalytic processes required to meet societys future needs. Original methods for the rapid synthesis of complex molecules, such as pharmaceutically relevant alkaloids, will also be developed via the knowledge gained. Ultimately, this should lead to more efficient and sustainable production of medicines, materials and other high-value molecules ubiquitous in everyday life. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Discovery Project - EOI ($811,541); University of Tasmania ($379,820).

Project Total: $27,000; Chemical synthesis is at the core of vast multinational industries that feed, clothe, and treat billions of people globally. The dominant contributor towards sustainability within chemical synthesis is chemical catalyst which underpins ca. 90% of industrial chemical transformations. Evidently, enhancing the sustainability of our manufacturing industries lies within enhancing the sustainability of chemical catalysis. This can be achieved through harnessing the most abundant energy source available to us light transforming it into chemical energy. Recent developments in light-mediated chemical synthesis have enabled the invention of a wide variety of non-traditional methods for the preparation of various important molecules and materials. These chemical transformations are typically catalysed by organic dyes or photoactive metal-based complexes. This project concerns the development of original photoactive materials with the view of uncovering new modes of chemical reactivity and comprehensively studying their photoinduced properties via photocrystallography. X-ray crystallography is a powerful technique in unambiguously identifying chemical species by producing 3D molecular images. The transient nature of light-induced chemical transformations make it extremely difficult to directly observe and characterise chemical species generated in such reactions. Photocrystallography is uniquely equipped with the potential to address this challenge and unambiguously capture the 3D structure of light-generated excited chemical species for the first time. Results from this project will significantly advance our ability to harness light a sustainable and inexhaustible resource that generates no waste to provide the energy required for chemical transformations. Specifically, the development of photocrystallography techniques within this project will place Australia at the forefront of understanding the light-induced behaviour of photoactive materials. This enhanced understanding and analytical capability will be the keystone for implementing light-harnessing catalysts and materials in Australias manufacturing and energy industries. This will raise Australias international reputation as a leader in sustainability in chemical synthesis. Funded by: Australian Institute of Nuclear Science & Engineering - Grant ($27,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $848,300; This project seeks to establish new methods for the efficient preparation of organic compounds using direct inputs of electricity to unlock fundamental reactivity that is otherwise unattainable under mild conditions. Employing an integrated experimental and computational approach, we will design new chemical reactions in which simple electrochemical triggers transform stable and inexpensive precursors into highly reactive intermediates in a controlled fashion. Ultimately, this research will enable safer and greener manufacturing of high-value molecules, such as pharmaceuticals, that are central to improvements in human health and the quality of life enjoyed by modern society. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Discovery Projects; Flinders University; University of Tasmania ($96,636).

Project Total: $799,084; This proposal will advance the Australian made Eco Detection portable electrophoretic analyser for autonomous monitoring of water chemistry - the Eco Sensor. We will re-design and miniaturise the fluidic manifold to reduce capital- and per-sample cost, increase the sensitivity of nutrients - nitrate and phospate - by 100-times in both fresh- and sea-waters, and develop new ultra-sensitive reagents for heavy metal detection at environmentally regulated levels. This will provide a single platform for at-site near-real-time monitoring of water chemistry for agricultural, mining, water corporations and other industries that use and/or discharge water to the environment Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Linkage Projects ($799,084); Eco Detection Australia Pty Ltd ($200,000); Deakin University ($117,250); University of Tasmania ($103,984).

Project Total: $119,489; Cannabis has been implicated to have numerous potential therapeutic applications. This project will extend the previous work of the group by using naturally occurring cannabinoids as a molecular scaffold to form novel compounds that will be evaluated as potential therapeutics against the CB2 receptor which has been proposed as a target in a number of neurological disorders. Funded by: Martha Jane Medical ($132,522); University of Tasmania ($60,024).

Project Total: $4,015,643; Food and wood products are areas of strategic growth for Tasmania and regional Australia, contributing $1.6 billion and $615 million, respectively, to the annual Tasmanian economy. A thriving and sustainable sector requires continued innovation to locally value-add and diversify products and markets. Innovation is underpinned by research strengths and a workforce sector connected to advances in technology and trained graduates. The University of Tasmania (UTas) is committed, through its strategic plan, to deliver impactful research to help Tasmania prosper, and to have influence nationally and globally. Through collaborations, this three-year project will increase research and development activity at UTas to support value-adding in niche food and wood products in regional areas. The delivery of the project will build cross-disciplinary, integrated collaborations at UTas, and together with long-term external partnerships and collaborations, will maximise the benefits of interdisciplinary approaches to delivering impactful research for the regions Funded by: Department of Education, Skills and Employment - Grant-Regional Research Collaboration ($4,005,643); Forico Pty Ltd ($10,000); University of Tasmania ($314,418).

Project Total: $560,000; This project aims to develop new catalytic synthetic reactions for the rapid and more direct functionalisation of organic compounds under mild conditions with the use of visible light. An integrated experimental and computational approach will be used to design potent visible-light photocatalysts that retain the advantages of standard photoredox catalysis but with the added ability to intercept and, thus control, reactive intermediates in situ. This will enable the control of stereochemistry in photoredox reactions - not possible with standard catalysts - and establish other useful synthetic transformations. These strategies will make it easier to prepare valuable classes of organic molecules - efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Discovery Projects ($560,000); University of Tasmania ($52,787).

Project Total: $914,404; This project will explore and establish original strategies that use inputs of energy (light and electricity) to break or form chemical bonds, which can provide new or improved access to valuable compounds. In this way, this research will augment or enhance existing methods for the selective and direct manipulation of molecules by creating tools that allow chemists to prepare molecules under particularly mild conditions. The outcomes of the project will include the development of new technology for organic synthesis and forging novel approaches for chemical alkylation and cross-coupling reactions. This can contribute to making important compounds more efficiently, safely and cheaper to produce in the future. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Fellowship-Future ($914,404); University of Tasmania ($674,488).

Project Total: $360,000; The aim of this project is to use cheap, earth-abundant transition metal ions and visible light to drive multi-electron transfer processes for challenging synthetic reactions. The significance of this problem is that these reactions are typically performed using expensive precious metals, which is not sustainable or suitable for large scale industrial applications. The outcome will be new knowledge and sustainable technologies for harnessing visible light for synthetic chemistry applications. The benefit will be the efficient and cost-effective use of visible light for synthesis using cheap earth-abundant metal ions. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Discovery Projects; University of New South Wales; University of Tasmania ($87,282).

Project Total: $269,487; Develop new chemistry for ecodetection applications of (1) glyphosate, (2) mining ions (cyanide, etc), and (3) heavy metals. Funded by: Eco Detection Australia Pty Ltd ($269,487); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $30,007; This work is concerned with the development of new visible light copper photocatalysts and their applications to small molecule activation, organic synthesis, and green chemistry Funded by: Collier Charitable Fund - Grant ($30,007); University of Tasmania ($5,000).

Project Total: $105,000; Cannabis and cannabis extracts have been reported to have beneficial applications to many indications including the management of seizures, pain, cancer and appetite amongst others. One problem has been the illicit nature of the material which results in lack of control of the dose and chemical profile of material which can be due to different plant varieties, growing conditions, extraction preparation and mode of delivery. This project aims to adopt a drug discovery approach to provide solid evidence for the effect of different cannabinoids by isolating the individual components for thorough evaluation of any therapeutical applications. In this way, clear dose dependant activity can be studied and protocols for the prescription of cannabinoids can be developed that are in-line with modern pharmaceutical procedures. This will also be the start point for the development of novel semi-synthetic cannabinoids that will allow us to develop structure activity relationships for different indications. This potentially extends the scope of the medicinal cannabis industry to be a raw material for the synthesis of active non-natural derivates similar to the semi-synthetic opiates. Funded by: Martha Jane Medical ($105,000); University of Tasmania ($45,000).

Project Total: $3,000; Extraction of plant root and analysis of compounds. Root to be extracted using pressurised hot water extraction and the major components purified by flash chromatography and characterised. Funded by: ZoeticDevelopment Group Pty Ltd ($3,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $31,433; This project is concerned with the preparation of a range of copper-based visible light photocatalysts coupled with an investigation of their application in organic synthesis. The immediate aims are to demonstrate that these complexes represent viable alternatives to established metal-based photocatalysts that rely on the reactivity of expensive and toxic third-row transition metals. Funded by: United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization - Grant-Green Chemistry for Young Scientists ($31,433); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $20,000; Funded by: Tasmanian Alkaloids Pty Ltd ($20,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $14,500; Funded by: University of Tasmania - Grant-Research Enhancement (REGS); University of Tasmania ($14,500).