
Overview
Background
Educated at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and the Australian National University, Canberra. Career at the Université de Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Universität Marburg, Germany. Professor and Chair of Organic Chemistry and Head of the Organic Chemistry Section, The University of Queensland from 1985. Emeritus professor from 2008. Chair of the National Committee for Chemistry of the Australian Academy of Science 2009-2014. Editor-in-Chief, Australian Journal of Chemistry 2008-15. Editor, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (Elsevier, IF 3.65) 2016-. Visiting Professor Université de Pau, France, 2011-19; Visiting Professor University of Kuwait 2014-18; Visiting Professor / Special Appointed Professor Hiroshima University 2014-18. Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Centenary Medal of the Australian Commonwealth 2003 for research in organic and physical chemistry. David Craig Medal of the Academy of Science 2014 for research in chemistry. JSPS Fellowship (Japan) 2014. Honorary doctorate, University of Pau, France, 2014. A.J. Birch Medal of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) for ecellence in research in organic chemistry, 2014. Leighton Medal of the RACI 2018.
Research on Unusual Molecules and Reactive Intermediates: Synthesis and Reaction Mechanism. Heterocyclic chemistry. Pyrolysis reactions. Photochemistry
Research in the Wentrup group is concerned with the discovery of novel types of molecules with new and unusual bonding patterns. Such molecules are mostly highly reactive, and special methods are required both for their generation and for their detection. The group has developed these methods over many years and acquired world-class equipment for these purposes, including flash vacuum thermolysis apparatus, cryostats for matrix isolation of reaction products at cryogenic temperatures (down to 7 K), matrix and solution photochemistry equipment, infrared, UV and mass spectrometers, as well as modern computational facilities.
This research has resulted in the synthesis and characterization of many novel compounds, including extended cumulenes of the types RN=C=C=C=X, which themselves are used in the synthesis of many novel types of molecules, some of them of potential pharmaceutical interest (quinolone antibiotics; diazepines).
The research group has a world reputation in the field of carbene and nitrene chemistry, involving reactive intermediates with sextet carbon or nitrogen. These species are also very useful in synthesis, for example in the preparation of diazepines and diazepinones, a family of pharmaceutically interesting compounds. Numerous mechanistic studies and synthetic applications of ketenes have been carried out in our group.
Active collaborations are ongoing with scientists in Australia (UQ and CSIRO), China (Suzhou), France (Pau), Germany (Oldenburg), Japan (Hiroshima), Spain (Donostia - San Sebastian), and Portugal (Coimbra).
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Curt Wentrup is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Science (Advanced), University of Copenhagen
- Doctoral Diploma, Institution to be confirmed
- Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Science
- Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Research interests
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Organic, physical, and historical chemistry
Reactive intermediates, pyrolysis, photochemistry, reaction mechanism. History of science.
Research impacts
This research leads to the development of new pharmaceuticals, e.g. new antibiotics (quinolones and naphthyridones) and new leads towards a treatment for scizophrenia (diazepine molecules).
Chemical industry has used our pyrolysis techniques in specialized manufacturing processes.
Our analytical/spectroscopic work has led to cooperation with chemical and energy firms and agencies involved in forensic science, and our research has generated collaborations with many scientists at universities in Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland, and USA.
Works
Search Professor Curt Wentrup’s works on UQ eSpace
2012
Journal Article
Nitrile Imines: Matrix Isolation, IR Spectra, Structures, and Rearrangement to Carbodiimides
Bégué, Didier, Qiao, Greg GuangHua and Wentrup, Curt (2012). Nitrile Imines: Matrix Isolation, IR Spectra, Structures, and Rearrangement to Carbodiimides. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 134 (11), 5339-5350. doi: 10.1021/ja2118442
2012
Journal Article
[3,3]-sigmatropic shifts and retro-ene rearrangements in cyanates, isocyanates, thiocyanates, and isothiocyanates of the form RX-YCN and RX-NCY
Koch, Rainer, Finnerty, Justin J., Murali, Sukumaran and Wentrup, Curt (2012). [3,3]-sigmatropic shifts and retro-ene rearrangements in cyanates, isocyanates, thiocyanates, and isothiocyanates of the form RX-YCN and RX-NCY. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 77 (4), 1749-1759. doi: 10.1021/jo2023069
2012
Journal Article
Editorial
Wentrup, Curt (2012). Editorial. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 65 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.1071/CH11900
2012
Journal Article
Pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones and Thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidinones: Precursors for Pyridyl- and Thiazolyliminopropadienones, R-N=C=C=C=O
Andersen, Heidi Gade and Wentrup, Curt (2012). Pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones and Thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidinones: Precursors for Pyridyl- and Thiazolyliminopropadienones, R-N=C=C=C=O. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 65 (2), 105-112. doi: 10.1071/CH11414
2012
Journal Article
Structures of 4-iminopyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones, pyridopyrimidinium olates, and thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine analogues
Bernhardt, Paul V. and Wentrup, Curt (2012). Structures of 4-iminopyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones, pyridopyrimidinium olates, and thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine analogues. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 65 (4), 371-375. doi: 10.1071/CH12040
2012
Journal Article
Polymorphism in 3-Pyridylsydnone: Preparative and Structural Aspects
Bernhardt, Paul V., Kvaskoff, David, Veedu, Rakesh Naduvile and Wentrup, Curt (2012). Polymorphism in 3-Pyridylsydnone: Preparative and Structural Aspects. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 65 (4), 376-380. doi: 10.1071/CH12041
2012
Journal Article
Bisiminopropadienes R-N=C=C=C=N-R from pyridopyrimidines
Andersen, Heidi Gade, Kvaskoff, David and Wentrup, Curt (2012). Bisiminopropadienes R-N=C=C=C=N-R from pyridopyrimidines. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 65 (6), 686-689. doi: 10.1071/CH12039
2011
Journal Article
Rearrangements and interconversions of heteroatom-substituted isocyanates, isothiocyanates, nitrile oxides, and nitrile sulfides, RX-NCY and RY-CNX
Koch, Rainer, Finnerty, Justin J. and Wentrup, Curt (2011). Rearrangements and interconversions of heteroatom-substituted isocyanates, isothiocyanates, nitrile oxides, and nitrile sulfides, RX-NCY and RY-CNX. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 76 (15), 6024-6029. doi: 10.1021/jo200593u
2011
Journal Article
Amino-, Alkoxy-, and Alkylthio-Isocyanates and -Isothiocyanates, RX-NCY, their Isomers RX-YCN and RX-CNY, and their Rearrangements
Wentrup, Curt, Finnerty, Justin J. and Koch, Rainer (2011). Amino-, Alkoxy-, and Alkylthio-Isocyanates and -Isothiocyanates, RX-NCY, their Isomers RX-YCN and RX-CNY, and their Rearrangements. Current Organic Chemistry, 15 (11), 1745-1759. doi: 10.2174/138527211795656624
2011
Journal Article
Nitrenes, Carbenes, Diradicals, and Ylides. Interconversions of Reactive Intermediates
Wentrup, Curt (2011). Nitrenes, Carbenes, Diradicals, and Ylides. Interconversions of Reactive Intermediates. Accounts of Chemical Research, 44 (6), 393-404. doi: 10.1021/ar700198z
2011
Journal Article
2-Quinoxalinylnitrenes and 4-Quinazolinylnitrenes: Rearrangement to Cyclic and Acyclic Carbodiimides and Ring-Opening to Nitrile Ylides
Kvaskoff, David, Vosswinkel, Michael and Wentrup, Curt (2011). 2-Quinoxalinylnitrenes and 4-Quinazolinylnitrenes: Rearrangement to Cyclic and Acyclic Carbodiimides and Ring-Opening to Nitrile Ylides. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133 (14), 5413-5424. doi: 10.1021/ja111155r
2011
Journal Article
Microorganisms with novel dissimilatory (bi)sulfite reductase genes are widespread and part of the core microbiota in low-sulfate peatlands
Steger, Doris, Wentrup, Cecilia, Braunegger, Christina, Deevong, Pinsurang, Hofer, Manuel, Richter, Andreas, Baranyi, Christian, Pester, Michael, Wagner, Michael and Loy, Alexander (2011). Microorganisms with novel dissimilatory (bi)sulfite reductase genes are widespread and part of the core microbiota in low-sulfate peatlands. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 77 (4), 1231-1242. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01352-10
2011
Journal Article
Editorial
Wentrup, Curt (2011). Editorial. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 64 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.1071/CH11006
2011
Journal Article
Marie Curie, radioactivity, the atom, the neutron, and the positron
Wentrup, Curt (2011). Marie Curie, radioactivity, the atom, the neutron, and the positron. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 64 (7), 847-848. doi: 10.1071/CH11235
2011
Conference Publication
4-Quinolylnitrene and 2-quinoxalinylcarbene
Addicott, Chris, Luerssen, Holger, Kuzaj, Martin, Kvaskoff, David and Wentrup, Curt (2011). 4-Quinolylnitrene and 2-quinoxalinylcarbene. Pacifichem 2010 International Symposia of Reactive Intermediates and Unusual Molecules (ISRIUM), Honolulu, HI, United States, 15–20 December 2010. Bognor Regis, West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/poc.1904
2010
Journal Article
5th Heron Island conference on reactive intermediates and unusual molecules
Wentrup, C and Williams, C (2010). 5th Heron Island conference on reactive intermediates and unusual molecules. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 63 (12), 1597-1597. doi: 10.1071/CH10389
2010
Journal Article
Cumulene rearrangements: Ketene-ketene, isocyanate-isocyanate, thioketeneketene, imidoylketene-ketenimine, and ketene-allene rearrangements
Wentrup, C, Finnerty, JJ and Koch, R (2010). Cumulene rearrangements: Ketene-ketene, isocyanate-isocyanate, thioketeneketene, imidoylketene-ketenimine, and ketene-allene rearrangements. Current Organic Chemistry, 14 (15), 1586-1599. doi: 10.2174/138527210793563279
2010
Journal Article
Mass spectrometry of benzyne and cyclopentadienylideneketene
Monsandl, Thomas, Macfarlane, Graham, Flammang, Robert and Wentrup, Curt (2010). Mass spectrometry of benzyne and cyclopentadienylideneketene. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 63 (7), 1076-1083. doi: 10.1071/CH09640
2010
Journal Article
Pitfalls in the photoelectron spectroscopic investigations of benzyne. Photoelectron spectrum of cyclopentadienylideneketene
Chrostowska, Anna, Pfister-Guillouzo, Genevieve, Gracian, Francoise and Wentrup, Curt (2010). Pitfalls in the photoelectron spectroscopic investigations of benzyne. Photoelectron spectrum of cyclopentadienylideneketene. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 63 (7), 1084-1090. doi: 10.1071/CH09641
2010
Journal Article
9-azidoacridine and 9-acridinylnitrene
Taherpour, Avat Arman, Kvaskoff, David, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Wentrup, Curt (2010). 9-azidoacridine and 9-acridinylnitrene. Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry, 23 (4), 382-389. doi: 10.1002/poc.1657
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Curt Wentrup is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2006
Doctor Philosophy
SYNTHESES AND REACTIONS OF IMINOPROPADIENONES, SYDNONES AND OXAZINONES
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
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2002
Doctor Philosophy
HETEROCYCLIC SYNTHESIS BASED ON IMINOPROPADIENONES
Principal Advisor
-
2002
Doctor Philosophy
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF 1,3- and 1,4- DIAZEPINES AND DERIVATIVES
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
NITRENES REARRANGEMENTS: FORMATION OF REACTIVE INTERMEDIATES AND UNUSUAL MOLECULES
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
Media
Enquiries
Contact Emeritus Professor Curt Wentrup directly for media enquiries about:
- Organic reaction mechanisms
- Photochemistry
- Pyrolysis
- Reactive intermediates
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