Fields of Research

Organic chemical synthesis
Natural products and bioactive compounds
Transition metal chemistry
Organometallic chemistry
Separation science
Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy
Biologically active molecules
Computational chemistry
Physical properties of materials
Pharmaceutical sciences
Interaction and experience design
Other chemical sciences
Medical bacteriology
Inorganic green chemistry
Metal organic frameworks
F-block chemistry
Functional materials
Theoretical quantum chemistry
Organic green chemistry
Electrochemistry
Analytical spectrometry
Transport properties and non-equilibrium processes
Microfluidics and nanofluidics
Polymerisation mechanisms
Macromolecular materials

Research Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the chemical sciences
Human pharmaceutical treatments
Environmentally sustainable manufacturing activities
Assessment, development and evaluation of curriculum
Measurement and assessment of freshwater quality (incl. physical and chemical conditions of water)
Clinical health
Other environmental management
Treatment of human diseases and conditions
Organic industrial chemicals (excl. resins, rubber and plastics)
Antimicrobials, antifungals and biocides
Other education and training
Measurement and assessment of marine water quality and condition
Measurement and assessment of estuarine water quality
Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences

Career Best Publications

A mild, palladium-catalyzed method for the dehydrohalogenation of alkyl bromides: Synthetic and mechanistic studies; Journal of the American Chemical Society
A versatile approach to Ullmann C-N couplings at room temperature: New families of nucleophiles and electrophiles for photoinduced, copper-catalyzed processes; Journal of the American Chemical Society
Applications of visible light photoredox catalysis to the synthesis of natural products and related compounds; Natural Product Reports
Brønsted acid cocatalysis in copper(I)-photocatalyzed α-amino C−H bond functionalization; ACS Catalysis
Identifying the potential of pulsed LED irradiation in synthesis: copper-photocatalysed C-F functionalisation; Chemical Communications
New method for the rapid extraction of natural products: efficient isolation of shikimic acid from star anise; Organic Letters
Photoinduced, copper-catalyzed alkylation of amides with unactivated secondary alkyl halides at room temperature; Journal of the American Chemical Society
Pretransmetalation intermediates in Suzuki−Miyaura C−C and carbonylative cross-couplings: synthesis and structural authentication of aryl- and aroylnickel(II) boronates; ACS Catalysis
Revised structures of dehydrostenines A and B: total syntheses of (±)-dehydrostenine A and structure assigned to dehydrostenine B; Chemistry: A European Journal
Synthesis of arylpalladium(II) boronates: confirming the structure and chemical competence of pre-transmetalation intermediates in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction; Angewandte Chemie
Synthetic applications of light, electricity, mechanical force and flow; Nature Reviews: Chemistry
TEMPO-Me: An electrochemically activated methylating agent; Journal of the American Chemical Society
The Au(I)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation of terminal alkynes under mild conditions: Application to the synthesis of 2H-chromenes, coumarins, benzofurans, and dihydroquinolines; The Journal of Organic Chemistry
Transition-metal-catalyzed alkylations of amines with alkyl halides: Photoinduced, copper-catalyzed couplings of carbazoles; Angewandte Chemie: International Edition
Unified total syntheses of (±)-sessilifoliamides B, C, and D; Organic Letters

Research Publications

α-Cyanocarbanion complexes and their application in synthesis; Journal of Organometallic Chemistry
4-iodo-6-methoxyquinoline; Organic Preparations and Procedures International
ent-Labdane Diterpenoids from Dodonaea viscosa; Journal of Natural Products
N-tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles as scaffolds for morpholines: the total synthesis of (–)-chelonin A; Synlett
A mild, palladium-catalyzed method for the dehydrohalogenation of alkyl bromides: Synthetic and mechanistic studies; Journal of the American Chemical Society
A versatile approach to Ullmann C-N couplings at room temperature: New families of nucleophiles and electrophiles for photoinduced, copper-catalyzed processes; Journal of the American Chemical Society
Activity of natural and synthetic polygodial derivatives against Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes, trypomastigotes and epimastigotes; Natural Product Research
Advanced inorganic chemistry laboratory curricula in Australian universities: investigating the major topics and approaches to learning; Australian Journal of Chemistry
Amide linked redox-active naphthoquinones for the treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction; MedChemComm
Anionic cyclometalated platinum(II) tetrazolato complexes as viable photoredox catalysts; Organometallics
Applications of visible light photoredox catalysis to the synthesis of natural products and related compounds; Natural Product Reports
Arbutin derivatives isolated from ancient proteaceae: potential phytochemical markers present in Bellendena, Cenarrhenes, and Persoonia Genera; Journal of Natural Products
Asperuloside enhances taste perception and prevents weight gain in high-fat fed mice; Frontiers in Endocrinology
Assessment in the chemistry teaching laboratory
Assessment in the chemistry teaching laboratory
Base-promoted reactions of dichlorocarbene adducts of cyclic enamines: A new route to annulated pyrroles; Organic Letters
Bismuth(III)-catalysed hydroalkylation of styrene with acetylacetone: a DFT-Based mechanistic study; Molecular Physics
Brønsted acid cocatalysis in copper(I)-photocatalyzed α-amino C−H bond functionalization; ACS Catalysis
Brønsted acid-mediated annulations of pyrroles featuring N-tethered α,β-unsaturated ketones and esters: total syntheses of (±)-tashiromine and (±)-indolizidine 209I; Tetrahedron
Brønsted acid-mediated radical processes in organic synthesis; Australian Journal of Chemistry
Capstone laboratory experiment investigating key features of palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions; Journal of Chemical Education
Cationic charge-appended abnormal carbenes: synthesis and study of electronically modified abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes; Inorganic Chemistry
Chapter 7: Seven-Membered Rings; Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Complete stereocontrol in the synthesis of harmonine and novel analogues facilitated by a Grubbs Z-selective cross-metathesis catalysis; Australian Journal of Chemistry
Counterion-induced asymmetric control in ring-opening of azetidiniums: facile access to chiral amines; Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Development and applications of water-based extraction methods in natural products isolation chemistry; Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry
Developments in visible-light-mediated copper photocatalysis; Tetrahedron Letters
Discovery of Periodinane Oxy-Assisted (POA) oxidation mechanism in the IBX-Controlled oxidative dearomatization of pyrroles mediated by acetic acid; The Journal of Organic Chemistry
Distinct drimane chemotypes in Tasmanian Mountain Pepper (Tasmannia lanceolata): Differences in the profiles of pungent leaf phytochemicals associated with altitudinal cline; Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Employing pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) to explore natural products chemistry in the undergraduate laboratory; Journal of Visualized Experiments
Enantioselective synthesis of 5- to 16-membered N-heterocycles via a Pd-catalyzed cascade; Chem Catalysis
Enhanced synthesis of oxo-verdazyl radicals bearing sterically-and electronically-diverse C3-substituents; Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
Exploring cyclization strategies to access stemona alkaloids: subtle effects influencing reactivity in intramolecular Michael additions; Organic Letters
Extraction of carboxylic acid-containing diterpenoids from Dodonaea viscosa via pressurised hot water extraction; Fitoterapia
Extraction of Eugenol from Cloves Using an Unmodified Household Espresso Machine: An Alternative to Traditional Steam-Distillation; Journal of Chemical Education
Green chemistry is key to reducing waste and improving sustainablity
Growing and bio-fabricating SCOBY: a project developed in an extended cross-disciplinary research team; 1st Annual Design Research Conference (ADR18)
Hydroalkylation of alkenes with 1,3-diketones via gold(III) or silver(I) catalysis: divergent mechanistic pathways revealed by a DFT-based investigation; ACS Catalysis
Identifying the potential of pulsed LED irradiation in synthesis: copper-photocatalysed C-F functionalisation; Chemical Communications
Investigating the viability of a competency-based, qualitative laboratory assessment model in first-year undergraduate chemistry; Chemistry Education Research and Practice
Methods for the synthesis of annulated pyrroles via cyclisation strategies; Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
Methyl cyanoformate (Mander's reagent); Synlett
Microwave-assisted trans-halogenation reactions of various chloro-, bromo-, trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy- and nonafluorobutanesulfonyloxy-substituted quinolines, isoquinolines, and pyridines leading to the corresponding iodinated heterocycles; The Journal of Organic Chemistry
Natural products isolated from endemic Tasmanian vascular plants; Australian Journal of Chemistry
Natural products isolation studies of native Australian fern species; Australian Journal of Chemistry
Natural products isolation studies of the paleoendemic plant species Nothofagus gunnii and Nothofagus cunninghamii; Fitoterapia
New method for the rapid extraction of natural products: efficient isolation of shikimic acid from star anise; Organic Letters
Non-classical anionic naked N-heterocyclic carbenes: fundamental properties and emerging applications in synthesis and catalysis; Catalysts
Novel polygodial analogs P3 and P27: Efficacious therapeutic agents disrupting mitochondrial function in oral squamous cell carcinoma; International Journal of Oncology
Nuances in fundamental Suzuki−Miyaura cross-couplings employing [Pd(PPh₃)₄]: poor reactivity of aryl Iodides at lower temperatures; Organometallics
Oranges, lemons and limonene: addressing surprisingly persistent and enduring myths
Oxidation of electron-deficient phenols mediated by hypervalent iodine(V) reagents: fundamental mechanistic features revealed by a density functional theory-based investigation; Journal of Organic Chemistry
Phosphine-scavenging cationic gold(I) complexes: alternative applications of gold cocatalysis in fundamental palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings; Organometallics
Photoactive metal carbonyl complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: synthesis, characterization, and viability as photoredox catalysts; Inorganic Chemistry
Photochemical activation of a hydroxyquinone-derived phenyliodonium ylide by visible light: synthetic and mechanistic investigations; Journal of Organic Chemistry
Photoinduced, copper-catalyzed alkylation of amides with unactivated secondary alkyl halides at room temperature; Journal of the American Chemical Society
Phytochemical profile of the rare, ancient clone Lomatia tasmanica and comparison to other endemic Tasmanian species L. tinctoria and L. polymorpha; Phytochemistry
Polygodial and ophiobolin A analogues for covalent crosslinking of anticancer targets; International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Polygodial: a viable natural product scaffold for the rapid synthesis of novel polycyclic pyrrole and pyrrolidine derivatives; Tetrahedron
Practical Isolation of Asperuloside from Coprosma quadrifida via Rapid Pressurised Hot Water Extraction; Australian Journal of Chemistry
Practical isolation of polygodial from Tasmannia lanceolata: a viable scaffold for synthesis; Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
Preparation of some angularly substituted and highly functionalized quinolizidines as building blocks for the synthesis of various alkaloids and related scaffolds of medicinal interest; Tetrahedron
Preparation of thermoresponsive hydrogels: Via polymerizable deep eutectic monomer solvents; Polymer Chemistry
Pressurized hot water extraction as a viable bioprospecting tool: isolation of coumarin natural products from previously unexamined Correa (Rutaceae) species; ChemistrySelect
Pretransmetalation intermediates in Suzuki−Miyaura C−C and carbonylative cross-couplings: synthesis and structural authentication of aryl- and aroylnickel(II) boronates; ACS Catalysis
Progress in the development of Platelet-Activating Factor Receptor (PAFr) antagonists and applications in the treatment of inflammatory diseases; ChemMedChem
RACI inclusion and diversity: a report on progress
Recent applications of [Cu(dap)₂]Cl in visible light-mediated photoredox catalysis; Australian Journal of Chemistry
Revised structures of dehydrostenines A and B: total syntheses of (±)-dehydrostenine A and structure assigned to dehydrostenine B; Chemistry: A European Journal
Rhenium-catalysed reactions in chemical synthesis: selected case studies; Dalton Transactions
Seven-Membered Rings; Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Seven-membered rings; Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Seven-membered rings; Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Seven-Membered Rings; Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Seven-Membered Rings; Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Seven-Membered Rings; Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Seven-Membered Rings; Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Seven-membered rings; Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry
Siliquapyranone: a tannic acid Tetrahydropyran-2-one isolated from the leaves of carob (Ceratonia siliqua) by pressurised hot water extraction; Australian Journal of Chemistry
Strategies for the synthesis of Stemona alkaloids: an update; Natural Product Reports
Structural revision of parvistemoamide: informing biosynthetic proposals of Stemona alkaloids; Organic Letters
Student-focussed approaches that can enhance understanding and appreciation of research in the chemical sciences; Australian Journal of Chemistry
Suzuki-Miyaura Csp²-Csp² cross-couplings employing nickel(II) pincer precatalysts: mechanistic investigations; Organometallics
Syntheses of the (±)-, (+)-, and (−)-forms of 2-Amino-3-(8-hydroxyquinolin-3-yl)propanoic acid (8HQ-3Ala) from a common dehydroamino acid methyl ester precursor; Asian Journal of Chemistry
Synthesis and characterisation of homoleptic 2,9- diaryl-1,10-phenanthroline copper(I) complexes: influencing selectivity in photoredox-catalysed atom-transfer radical addition reactions; Dalton Transactions
Synthesis of 2,3-dihydro-4(1H)-quinolones and the corresponding 4(1H)-quinolones via low-temperature fries rearrangement of N-arylazetidin-2-ones; Australian Journal of Chemistry
Synthesis of 4-phenylthieno[2,3-c]quinolines via Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings; ARKIVOC
Synthesis of arylpalladium(II) boronates: confirming the structure and chemical competence of pre-transmetalation intermediates in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction; Angewandte Chemie
Synthesis of pyrrolidine- and γ-lactam-containing natural products and related compounds from pyrrole scaffolds; Chemical Record
Synthetic applications of light, electricity, mechanical force and flow; Nature Reviews: Chemistry
TEMPO-Me: An electrochemically activated methylating agent; Journal of the American Chemical Society
The Au(I)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation of terminal alkynes under mild conditions: Application to the synthesis of 2H-chromenes, coumarins, benzofurans, and dihydroquinolines; The Journal of Organic Chemistry
The oxidation of pyrrole; Chemistry - An Asian Journal
Towards cleaner downstream processing of biomass waste chemical products by liquid chromatography: A review and recommendations; Journal of Cleaner Production
Transition-metal-catalyzed alkylations of amines with alkyl halides: Photoinduced, copper-catalyzed couplings of carbazoles; Angewandte Chemie: International Edition
Tricarbonyl rhenium(I) tetrazolato and N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: versatile visible-light-mediated photoredox catalysts; Dalton Transactions
Unified total syntheses of (±)-sessilifoliamides B, C, and D; Organic Letters
Visible light dye-photosensitised oxidation of pyrroles using a simple LED photoreactor; Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry

Research Projects

Artificial Photosynthesis: Using Light to Sustainably Prepare Valuable Chemical Compounds; Collier Charitable Fund (CCFund)
Boosting research capability to develop value-added products for the food and wood industries in regional areas.; Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE)
Development of new viable and inexpensive visible light copper photocatalysts; United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Development of novel transition metal-catalyzed processes: Cascade and photochemical reactions; University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Harnessing light and electricity to drive chemical synthesis; Australian Research Council (ARC)
Metal complexes for sustainable light-driven synthesis; Australian Research Council (ARC)
Switchable and stereocontrolled photoredox catalysis; Australian Research Council (ARC)
Ecodetection improvements
Extraction and analysis of Plant Material
Isolation and synthesis of potential new therapeutic agents from Hemp (Cannabis sativa) and their biological evaluation
Synthesis of Opiate Derivatives

Research Candidate Supervision

Chemical survey of Tasmanian land plants by Hot Pressurised Water Extraction (HPWE) targeting new molecular scaffolds for chemical modification for medicinal chemistry applications
Oxidation of Pyrroles- Applications to the Sythesis of Biologically Active Molecules
Synthesis of New Derivatives Targeting Mitochondrial Disease