Friday, 5 March 11:00am – 12:00pm

This seminar will be delivered via Zoom – Please email chemistry.researchsupport@sydney.edu.au for zoom link and password.

Speaker: Professor Mick Sherburn; Australian National University

Host: Professor Richard Payne

Title: New Molecules, Reactions and Strategies for Shorter Total Synthesis

Abstract:   The prevailing dogma that acyclic π-bond rich hydrocarbons are kinetically unstable and difficult to manipulate has been challenged in recent times by work from our laboratory. This talk will show that these molecules are easy to prepare, manageable, and also capable of extraordinary structural complexity generation, by serving as the central hub for controlled domino reactions. Their ability to generate target-relevant complexity will be demonstrated through the most step economic synthesis of complex natural products, and their virtually untapped potential in accessing carbon-rich materials will be presented.

Bio:

Mick Sherburn is a Professor of Chemistry at the Australian National University in Canberra. He completed his PhD with John Murphy at the University of Nottingham (UK) and carried out postdoctoral work with Lew Mander at the Australian National University. He subsequently held academic positions at Massey University (New Zealand) and the University of Sydney (Australia) before returning to the ANU as a group leader in 2002. His research contributions focus on the efficient chemical synthesis of natural and designed structures. His group develops new methods, strategies and tactics and applies them in the total synthesis of bioactive natural products, in hydrocarbon structures of fundamental importance, and in self-assembly and host-guest chemistry. His awards include the Arthur J Birch Medal of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the Le Fèvre Memorial Prize of the Australian Academy of Science.