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We study the synthesis of new types of chiral molecules. Chiral molecules exist as pairs of mirror-image arrangements of atoms that are not superimposable on one another, like pairs of hands in which one is left and the other right. Each one of these molecular configurations is called an enantiomer. The biological activity of one enantiomer of a chiral compound can differ completely from that of the mirror-image substance. Since many drugs are chiral, careful work is required to separate and purify the required enantiomer for clinical use.
Catalysts can be used to transmit chiral information to compounds as they are synthesised. We are particularly interested in synthesising enantiomerically pure phosphorus compounds as these are used in catalysts for a number of industrial processes, including the synthesis of chiral drugs. Our group has pioneered the use of a special method for the separation of the enantiomers of chiral phosphines that gives each enantiomer in very high purity. The enantiomerically pure phosphines, in turn, can be used to develop chiral catalysts for the production of new chiral drugs in enantiomerically pure form.
Bruce Wild graduated with a BSc (hons) from the University of New South Wales and received his PhD from the University of Manchester.
PhD Candidates |
A polycyclic tetra(tertiary phosphine) cage ligand has been synthesised by the spontaneous intramolecular cyclisation of 1,2-phenylenebis[di(4-pentyl)phosphine with 1,2-phenylenebis(phosphine) on copper(I).
The first enantiomerically pure secondary chloro- and iodoarsines based on the 2,2’-bis(methylene)-1,1’-binaphthyl group have been prepared.
Our work in this area has been extended to the asymmetric synthesis of ditertiary arsines.
More about Phosphine-Stabilised Arsenium Salts and Asymmetric Synthesis of Tertiary Arsines
The self-assembly of molecules into large supramolecular structures is an important feature in biology and is now readily achieved in inorganic coordination chemistry with appropriate helicating ligands and metal ions.
A number of methyl-substituted phenylphosphetanes have been synthesised for an investigation of the stereoselective synthesis of polyphosphines by free-radical polymerization.
More about Quantum Chemical Design of Stereoregular Polyphosphines