Associate Professor and Reader
CONTACT DETAILS:
Address: School of
Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010 Australia
Room: 512
Email: cgyoung@unimelb.edu.au
Teaching responsibilities
Field of expertise
Metals in Biological and Artificial Catalysis and Applications of Synchrotron Radiation Transition metal chemistry is extremely important since it underpins advances in many areas of science and technology. Indeed, it is essential to progress in (inter alia) bioinorganic chemistry, industrial catalysis (including green chemistry), materials science, nanotechnology, and environmental science. Our interest in transition metal chemistry stems primarily from a desire to understand the structure and function of biological (enzymatic) and artificial (industrial) catalysts.
Our research has two broad, sometimes interrelated aims:
- To contribute to chemical knowledge through the synthesis and structural and spectroscopic interrogation of novel coordination and organometallic compounds.
- To contribute to the understanding of the structure and function of the metal-containing active sites of biological (enzymatic) and artificial (industrial) catalysts.
Molybdenum, an essential trace element for all forms of life, is found at the active site of pterin(MPT)-containing enzymes. Tungsten-MPT enzymes are found in hyperthermophilic (heat-loving) organisms from hydrothermal vents and volcanoes. My group has been involved in the development of key models for the Mo-and W-MPT enzymes. These boast centres and reactions directly relevant to the enzymes [1-3]. More recently, we have isolated key intermediates in oxygen atom transfer reactions (left and centre figures) [4] and continued our development of a comprehensive model for Mo hydroxylases [5]. In exciting new work, we have demonstrated the activation of C-H bonds by [MoOS] centres and have developed new models for the MoO(µ-S)Cu centre of CO dehydrogenase (right figure). Related studies have focussed on Mo-nucleotide, Mo-calixarene, W-sulfido species and counterintuitive redox reactions. We have exploited X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS) in many of these studies and are involved in the development of related techniques [6].
Our research in the area of organometallic chemistry is directed toward the isolation and characterisation of reactive intermediates [7], the conjunction of disparate ligand types at metal centres [8], and the reactions of unsaturated organic molecules with metal-sulfur species (relevant to melded ligand syntheses and hydrodesulfurisation, an important process in the refining of petroleum) [9].
Our research is supported by strong local and international (UK, USA, Canada) collaborations and national and international funding agencies.
Enquiries about Ph.D. or postdoctoral positions are welcome at any time.
For more information visit the Young research group website.
Selected
Publications:
- Young, C.G, Comprehensive Coordination Chemistry, Elsevier Pergamon, Amsterdam, 2004, Vol. 4, pp. 415–527.
- Young, C.G, Biomimetic Oxidations Catalyzed by Transition Metal Complexes, Imperial College Press, 2000, Ch.9, pp. 415–459.
- Young, C.G, Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry 2, Wiley, 2005, in press.
- Millar, A.J.; Doonan, C.J.; Smith, P.D.; Nemykin, V.N.; Basu, P.; Young, C.G, Chemistry – A European Journal 2005, in press.
- Smith, P.D.; Slizys, D.A.; George, G.N.; Young, C.G, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 2946–2947.
- Doonan, C.J.; Zhang, L.; Young, C.G.; George, S.J.; Deb, A.; Bergmann, U.; George, G.N.; Cramer, S.P., Inorg. Chem., 2005, 44, 2579-2581
- Malarek, M.S.; Logan, B.A.; White, J.M.l.; Young, C.G, Organometallics 2004, 23, 4328–4331.
- Thomas, S.; Tiekink, E.R.T.; Young, C.G, Organometallics 1996, 15, 2428-2430.
- Lim,P.J.; Slizys, D.A.; Tiekink, E.R.T.; Young, C.G, Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 114–121.
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