A selection of papers authored by speakers at the National Congress of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute held in Adelaide, 7–12 December 2014, is presented.

A new avenue to develop radiotracers that were previously unattainable owing to the lack of efficient radiosynthetic methods is necessary to work towards our ultimate, albeit impossible goal – the concept we term total radiosynthesis – to radiolabel virtually any molecule.

The structures of a series of heterocyclic α-oxo-oximes were investigated experimentally and computationally. The preferred configurations of α-oxo-oximes can be understood on the basis of steric hindrance (disfavouring E isomers), lone-pair repulsion between C=O and OH groups (disfavouring ZE isomers), and, most importantly, intramolecular H-bonding (favouring ZZ isomers) and intermolecular H-bonding (favouring EE isomers).

The effects of changing the concentration of the functional groups on water adsorption on activated carbon fibres which were treated by oxidation or reduction were investigated. The onset of water adsorption in the micropores shifts to lower pressure when the concentration of functional groups is high, and vice versa.

(BDA)Fe(CO)₃ (BDA = benzylideneacetone) is sequentially treated with P((CH₂)_mCH=CH₂)₃ (m = 4–8), NO⁺BF₄^–, and n-Bu₄N⁺X^– (X = Cl, Br, I, CN) to give three series of trigonal bipyramidal trans bis(phosphine) complexes, 2 (60–75 %), 3 (88–98 %), and 4-X (73–93 %), all of which can potentially undergo three-fold intramolecular ring-closing metatheses to give gyroscope-like complexes VII.

Electronic structures and optical properties of a series of compounds Fe(dppe)(η⁵-C₅Me₅){[C≡C(1,4-C₆H₄)]_nNO₂} (1–3; n = 1–3) were investigated using density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory computations. The extension of the carbon-rich chain has a moderate influence on the electronic properties of the compounds in their ground state, but affects notably their spectroscopic properties, with some unexpected hypsochromic shift of the lower energy absorption bands upon carbon chain lengthening.

The chemiluminescence of squaraine rotaxane endoperoxide is greatly enhanced in acidic alcohol solvents. The interlocked rotaxane structure is necessary for the increased chemiluminescence, which is most likely due to an O–O cleavage process that produces a squaraine excited state.

A range of isomers of Fmoc-propargyloxyproline have been prepared to give access to proline-linked peptide conjugates. Such conjugates can retain the binding affinity and/or binding conformation of the parent peptide as shown with studies of ligands for the Y₁ receptor and HIV integrase.

C-Terminal modifications extended the antibacterial activity of a proline-rich peptide to other Gram-negative species. Such modifications may aid in the development of more potent proline-rich antimicrobial peptides with a greater spectrum of activity against Gram-negative bacteria than the parent peptide.

A Rh^I-catalyzed cross-coupling of diazoester with arylstannane was developed, which represents the first Stille-type coupling that uses a diazo compound as the coupling partner. The reaction provides an alternative approach for the synthesis of α-aryl esters. Rh^I–carbene migratory insertion process is suggested to be involved as the key step in this Stille-type coupling.

Fragmentation of the complexes [RCO₂Ag₂(CH₃CN)_n]⁺ (n = 1 and 2) is dictated by the R group. Decarboxylation is preferred over loss of a coordinated acetonitrile for R = CH₃C≡C, but ligand loss is the sole pathway when R = CH₃.

A one-dimensional Eu³⁺ coordination polymer bearing α-CN substituted β-diketonate and 1,10-phenanthroline ligands was prepared and revealed red emission in the solid state. Analysis of the polymer after re-dissolution and ultrafast transient absorption for model compounds provides some insight into the sensitisation efficiency from the β-diketonate to Eu³⁺.

A 2-in-1 chromophore: to piece together two chromophores into one yields a more efficient chromophore system with distinct physical and chemical characteristics. A new technique based on the application of the nitro function as a leaving group in a S_N-Ar reaction is developed to circumvent the limitations of using a chlorine or bromine function in the synthesis of monomethine cyanine dyes.

Synthesis and characterization of a biocompatible, biodegradable, and 3D-printable polyester (poly(tri(ethylene glycol) adipate) dimethacrylate) are demonstrated for suitability in vascularized soft-tissue scaffolding applications.

Fluorophores based on 4-triazolyl, 7-hydroxy-4-triazolylmethyl, 4-O-triazolylmethyl and 7-O-triazolylmethyl coumaryl tagged amino acids and dipeptides were synthesized by copper-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between azido or alkynyl functionalized coumarins with alkynyl or azido functionalized amino acid and dipeptides, in good to excellent yields. Steady-state absorption and fluorescence properties of the synthesized conjugates were studied.

A stable and renewable adsorbent for CO₂ adsorption has been developed for the first time by loading triethylenetetramine (TETA) on poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (P123)-occluded Zr-SBA-15. The adsorbent exhibits adsorption capacity of 4.27 mmol g^–1 at 50°C in a stream of 5 % CO₂.

A new phenolato and μ_1,1,3-azido co-bridged polynuclear manganese(iii) complex has been synthesised and characterised. The complex converts styrene most efficiently in the presence of PhIO and NaOCl.

Several substitutions at the α-position of imidazolidin-2-ylidene alter the nucleophilicity, basicity, and stability of this N-heterocyclic carbene. Achieving new carbenes with a higher basicity is an important goal from both fundamental and practical points of view.

Controlled liquid oxidization of industrial carbon black specimens was reported for the first time as an efficient synthesis and general fluorescence tuning approach to uniform-sized carbon dots with unprecedented dually tuneable emissions. Along with the customizable pH-responsive behaviours, these carbonaceous nanolights offered a promising platform for both sensing and displaying applications.

N,N-Dialkyl-N′-chlorosulfonyl chloroformamidines 1 regioselectively reacted with 1-substituted 5-aminopyrazoles 2 to afford pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,2,4]thiadiazine dioxides 3. Methylation of 3 occurred at N2, N4, and N6. Benzylation occurred preferentially at N2. Alkylation at N6 with ethyl bromoacetate resulted in pyrazole ring expansion affording pyrimido[4,5-e][1,2,4]thiadiazines. Compounds 3 were unreactive towards acylating agents.