This project will investigate the synthesis of BODIPY pyrazole and cobaloxime complexes and their use as sensitizers.

We are developing new pincer frameworks that include unconventional donors, e.g., o-silyl (–SiR3), carbene and o-boryl (-BR2) groups in the equatorial position.

This is one of the big unsolved challenges in biochemistry: how to direct the tag to a single site, ideally inside cells in the presence of other proteins and cell metabolites. The project employs unnatural amino acids for the attachment of fluorophores, EPR tags and NMR tags.

Most proteins and enzymes "live" in solution. Like mechanical machines, their function depends on conformational changes. Using NMR spectroscopy in solution, we develop new methods to determine the movements and conformational changes of proteins, such as the COVID-19 main protease.

EPR and related double resonance techniques allow us to elucidate changes in the localization of electron density (metal or ligand centred) following reduction or oxidation, and thus predict likely routes of chemical reactions/catalysis.

This project aims to develop a novel, enhanced catalytic reaction that enables to decompose organic compounds in waste water for water purification using solar energy. The catalysts will be designed using multifunctional materials and then fabricated to study associated catalytic reaction process.

At the ANU, we recently installed world-leading prototype equipment to perform experiments not possible previously with miniscule quantities of material (see picture of sample rotors in comparison with Australian five Cent coin below).

This project will involve use of fs- and ns-pulsed wavelength-tuneable lasers, in some cases interfaced to electrochemistry equipment, to investigate NLO properties of new molecules/materials, and can involve modelling properties using the ANU’s supercomputer.

This project will explore designer bicyclobutanes and the strained molecule “propellane” in alkylation, radical addition and cycloaddition chemistry, including for the modification of peptides and bioactive small molecules.

This project will involve the synthesis of two simple ligands containing a squaramide, and the formation of their [MnL2n]2n+ cages (M = PdII and PtII, n = 2 or 3). The ability of these architectures to recognize relevant anions will then be explored.

Structurally complex organic natural products are the basis of most of our medicines, and people trained in their
preparation are employed in discovery and process chemistry research units of pharmaceutical companies.

This project will synthesize foldamers decorated with emissive groups such as pyrene.

We have developed a remarkably easy route into certain high-nuclearity ruthenium carbonyl clusters (the figure shows a Ru12 cluster, the largest Ru cluster so far); this project will explore the chemistry of these unique compounds.

This project will explore the synthesis and chemistry of new group 6/group 9 mixed-metal clusters. The selectivity for certain types of catalysis will be explored in collaboration with the State Key Laboratory for Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The Malins group is interested in several anti-cancer, antimalarial, and antibiotic peptides. 2023-2024 projects in this space will involve the chemical synthesis, structural modification, and biological evaluation of peptide leads as next-generation therapies.