Unveiling the Unexplored Areas of Organocatalysis

Dr Vinh Nguyen

Department of Chemistry, Curtin University, Perth WA

Organocatalysis, chemical processes catalyzed by small non-metallic organic compounds, has been attracting a great deal of attention from synthetic organic chemists for the last fifteen years as one of the most promising fields in organic chemistry. It can be employed in diverse synthetic cascade sequences to quickly construct complex bonds, stereocenters and polycyclic frameworks. Organocatalysts are less expensive, more stable and exhibit superior solubility in both organic and aqueous solutions compared to organometallic/bioorganic counterparts. Most importantly, organocatalysis generally gives rise to outstanding stereoselectivity, which is significantly valuable and useful at the structural engineering stage of bioactive compounds and pharmaceutical agents. In this seminar, I will discuss my new research directions on the development and applications of novel organocatalytic methods in unexplored areas such as alcohol activation, electro-organocatalysis and multifunctional organocatalysis.

PDF flyer: http://blogs.curtin.edu.au/science-seminars/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2013/08/23-August-Vinh.pdf

Mitigation of I-DBPs and Control of Bromate Formation During Ozonation pre-Treatment

Electrochemical Communication with Molybdoenzymes

Prof. Paul V. Bernhardt

School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioseciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072 Australia

Abstract:

All redox active enzymes require an external electron donor or acceptor to sustain their reactivity. Integration of the enzyme with an electrical circuit as a substitute for the natural electron transfer partner is central to the transition from native function to an artificial bioelectronic device.
We have focused our efforts on the mononuclear molybdenum enzymes [1-3] where the scheme shows the generic substrate redox reactions (typically O- atom transfer) carried out by these enzymes. Both the reductases and oxidases/dehydrogenases are included in the scheme.
Some recent results from our lab will be presented where we apply different electrochemical approaches to these interesting enzymes in an effort to exploit the high selectivity and reactivity.

[1] Bernhardt, P.V. Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 1663-1673 (review).
[2] Kalimuthu, P.; Tkac, J.; Kappler, U.; Davis, J.J.; Bernhardt, P.V. Anal. Chem. 2010, 82, 7374-7379.
[3] Kalimuthu, P.; Leimkühler, S.; Bernhardt, P. V. Anal. Chem. 2012, 84, 10359-10365