Professor Paul Bernhardt
Professor

Paul Bernhardt

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54266

Background

After completing my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Newcastle, I held a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Basel (Switzerland) from 1990-2. I returned to Australia in 1993 to take up an Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Australian National University (Canberra) from 1993-4. I joined The University of Queensland in 1994.

Availability

Professor Paul Bernhardt is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Inorganic chemistry Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle

Research interests

  • Protein Electrochemistry

    This research involves incorporating redox active enzymes with electrochemical systems such that the enzyme functions natively whilst in communication with an electrode (rather than with a natural electron transfer partner). We are currently investigating a number of systems, most from the molybdenum enzyme family that catalyse oxygen transfer reactions of both organic and inorganic substrates.

  • Copper Complexes as Atom Transfer Radical Catalysts

    Atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) is one of the most widely used 'controlled' radical polymerisation techniques and has resulted in polymers with well defined molecular weights and architectures. Our work is focused on complexes that catalyse this process by generating organic radicals from the simple reaction between a Cu(I) complex and an alkyl halide initiator. We can probe this atom transfer reaction with cyclic voltammetry and we have gained new insight to this interesting and fundamentally important reaction. This has now progressed to developing electrocatalytic synthetic methods for C-C bond formation reactions in collaboration with Prof. Craig Williams (SCMB).

Research impacts

My research interests include all aspects of coordination chemistry; particularly its relevance to the areas of electrochemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, spectroscopy and catalysis.

In recent years some of the areas in which we have been, and continue to be, actively involved include:

  • Enzyme electrochemistry (collaborations with several UQ and international groups).
  • Invesitigation of copper complexes that are active in atom transfer radical polymerisation catalysis
  • Transition metal-mediated organic oxidation and reduction reactions

Search Professor Paul Bernhardt’s works on UQ eSpace

545 works between 1987 and 2025
All (545) Journal Article (513) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (28) Other Outputs (1)

21 - 40 of 545 works

2024

Journal Article

X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy of N<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub> Cu(ii)/(iii) complexes

Geoghegan, Blaise L., Bilyj, Jessica K., Bernhardt, Paul V., DeBeer, Serena and Cutsail, George E. (2024). X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy of N2S2 Cu(ii)/(iii) complexes. Dalton Transactions, 53 (18), 7828-7838. doi: 10.1039/d4dt00085d

X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy of N<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub> Cu(ii)/(iii) complexes

2023

Journal Article

Dilution accelerates crystallization: a negative-order kinetic coordination reaction induced by the competitive interplay of dissociation and complexation

Meng, Peng, Connolly, Blake J. P., Anand, Ayusha, Wang, Yuting, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Xu, Jingsan (2023). Dilution accelerates crystallization: a negative-order kinetic coordination reaction induced by the competitive interplay of dissociation and complexation. CCS Chemistry, 5 (12), 2845-2854. doi: 10.31635/ccschem.023.202303095

Dilution accelerates crystallization: a negative-order kinetic coordination reaction induced by the competitive interplay of dissociation and complexation

2023

Journal Article

Redox characterization of the complex molybdenum enzyme formate dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator

Harmer, Jeffrey R., Hakopian, Sheron, Niks, Dimitri, Hille, Russ and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2023). Redox characterization of the complex molybdenum enzyme formate dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 145 (47), 25850-25863. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c10199

Redox characterization of the complex molybdenum enzyme formate dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator

2023

Journal Article

Steric blockade of oxy-myoglobin oxidation by thiosemicarbazones: structure–activity relationships of the novel PPP4pT series

Wijesinghe, Tharushi P., Kaya, Busra, Gonzálvez, Miguel A., Harmer, Jeffrey R., Gholam Azad, Mahan, Bernhardt, Paul V., Dharmasivam, Mahendiran and Richardson, Des R. (2023). Steric blockade of oxy-myoglobin oxidation by thiosemicarbazones: structure–activity relationships of the novel PPP4pT series. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 66 (22), 15453-15476. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01612

Steric blockade of oxy-myoglobin oxidation by thiosemicarbazones: structure–activity relationships of the novel PPP4pT series

2023

Journal Article

Metal complexes of Schiff bases prepared from quinoline-3-carbohydrazide with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, 2-chlorobenzaldehyde and 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde: structure and biological activity

Sunjuk, Mahmoud, Al-Najjar, Lana, Shtaiwi, Majed, El-Eswed, Bassam, Sweidan, Kamal, Bernhardt, Paul, Zalloum, Hiba and Al-Essa, Luay (2023). Metal complexes of Schiff bases prepared from quinoline-3-carbohydrazide with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, 2-chlorobenzaldehyde and 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde: structure and biological activity. Inorganics, 11 (10) 412, 412. doi: 10.3390/inorganics11100412

Metal complexes of Schiff bases prepared from quinoline-3-carbohydrazide with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, 2-chlorobenzaldehyde and 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde: structure and biological activity

2023

Journal Article

9-Azahomocubane

Fahrenhorst-Jones, Tyler, Marshall, David L., Burns, Jed M., Pierens, Gregory K., Van Meurs, Derek P., Kong, Dehui, Bernhardt, Paul V., Blanksby, Stephen J., Savage, G. Paul, Eaton, Philip E. and Williams, Craig M. (2023). 9-Azahomocubane. Chemistry: A European Journal, 30 (3) e202303133, e202303133. doi: 10.1002/chem.202303133

9-Azahomocubane

2023

Journal Article

The reversible electrochemical interconversion of formate and CO2 by formate dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator

Kalimuthu, Palraj, Hakopian, Sheron, Niks, Dimitri, Hille, Russ and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2023). The reversible electrochemical interconversion of formate and CO2 by formate dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 127 (39), 8382-8392. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c04652

The reversible electrochemical interconversion of formate and CO2 by formate dehydrogenase from Cupriavidus necator

2023

Journal Article

Electrocatalytic atom transfer radical addition with turbocharged organocopper(II) complexes

Naher, Masnun, Su, Chuyi, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Williams, Craig M. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2023). Electrocatalytic atom transfer radical addition with turbocharged organocopper(II) complexes. Inorganic Chemistry, 62 (38), 15575-15583. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c02106

Electrocatalytic atom transfer radical addition with turbocharged organocopper(II) complexes

2023

Journal Article

seco-1-Azacubane-2-carboxylic acid–Amide Bond Comparison to Proline

Fahrenhorst-Jones, Tyler, Kong, Dehui, Burns, Jed M., Pierens, Gregory K., Bernhardt, Paul V., Savage, G. Paul and Williams, Craig M. (2023). seco-1-Azacubane-2-carboxylic acid–Amide Bond Comparison to Proline. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 88 (18), 12867-12871. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c01264

seco-1-Azacubane-2-carboxylic acid–Amide Bond Comparison to Proline

2023

Journal Article

Electrocatalytic aldehyde oxidation by a tungsten dependent aldehyde oxidoreductase from Aromatoleum aromaticum

Kalimuthu, Palraj, Hege, Dominik, Winiarska, Agnieszka, Gemmecker, Yvonne, Szaleniec, Maciej, Heider, Johann and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2023). Electrocatalytic aldehyde oxidation by a tungsten dependent aldehyde oxidoreductase from Aromatoleum aromaticum. Chemistry – A European Journal, 29 (20) e202203072, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/chem.202203072

Electrocatalytic aldehyde oxidation by a tungsten dependent aldehyde oxidoreductase from Aromatoleum aromaticum

2023

Journal Article

1-azahomocubane

Fahrenhorst-Jones, Tyler, Marshall, David L., Burns, Jed. M., Pierens, Gregory K., Hormann, Robert E., Fisher, Allison M., Bernhardt, Paul V., Blanksby, Stephen J., Savage, G. Paul, Eaton, Philip E. and Williams, Craig M. (2023). 1-azahomocubane. Chemical Science, 14 (11), 2821-2825. doi: 10.1039/d3sc00001j

1-azahomocubane

2023

Journal Article

Kinetico-mechanistic studies on a reactive organocopper(II) complex: Cu–C bond homolysis versus heterolysis

Gonzálvez, Miguel A., Williams, Craig M., Martínez, Manuel and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2023). Kinetico-mechanistic studies on a reactive organocopper(II) complex: Cu–C bond homolysis versus heterolysis. Inorganic Chemistry, 62 (11), 4662-4671. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c00127

Kinetico-mechanistic studies on a reactive organocopper(II) complex: Cu–C bond homolysis versus heterolysis

2023

Journal Article

Interplay of electronic and geometric structure on Cu phenanthroline, bipyridine and derivative complexes, synthesis, characterization, and reactivity towards oxygen

Romo, Adolfo I.B., dos Reis, Monilson P., Nascimento, Otaciro R., Bernhardt, Paul V., Rodríguez-López, Joaquín and Diógenes, Izaura C.N. (2023). Interplay of electronic and geometric structure on Cu phenanthroline, bipyridine and derivative complexes, synthesis, characterization, and reactivity towards oxygen. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 477 214943. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214943

Interplay of electronic and geometric structure on Cu phenanthroline, bipyridine and derivative complexes, synthesis, characterization, and reactivity towards oxygen

2023

Journal Article

Synthesis of uronic acid 1‐Azasugars as putative inhibitors of α‐Iduronidase, β‐glucuronidase and heparanase

Doherty, Gareth G., Ler, Geraldine Jia Ming, Wimmer, Norbert, Bernhardt, Paul V., Ashmus, Roger A., Vocadlo, David J., Armstrong, Zach W. B., Davies, Gideon J., Maccarana, Marco, Li, Jin-ping, Kayal, Yasmin and Ferro, Vito (2023). Synthesis of uronic acid 1‐Azasugars as putative inhibitors of α‐Iduronidase, β‐glucuronidase and heparanase. ChemBioChem, 24 (4) e202200619, 1-7. doi: 10.1002/cbic.202200619

Synthesis of uronic acid 1‐Azasugars as putative inhibitors of α‐Iduronidase, β‐glucuronidase and heparanase

2023

Journal Article

Structural and functional insight into the mechanism of the Fe‐S cluster‐dependent dehydratase from Paralcaligenes ureilyticus

Bayaraa, Tenuun, Lonhienne, Thierry, Sutiono, Samuel, Melse, Okke, Brück, Thomas B., Marcellin, Esteban, Bernhardt, Paul V., Boden, Mikael, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Sieber, Volker, Guddat, Luke W. and Schenk, Gerhard (2023). Structural and functional insight into the mechanism of the Fe‐S cluster‐dependent dehydratase from Paralcaligenes ureilyticus. Chemistry: A European Journal, 29 (9) e202203140, 1-13. doi: 10.1002/chem.202203140

Structural and functional insight into the mechanism of the Fe‐S cluster‐dependent dehydratase from Paralcaligenes ureilyticus

2023

Journal Article

Ab initio investigation of the Na3[Ln(ODA)3]·2NaClO4·6H2O (Ln = Ce–Yb; ODA = oxydiacetate) series

Connolly, Blake J. P., Lian, James Y. J., Bernhardt, Paul V. and Riley, Mark J. (2023). Ab initio investigation of the Na3[Ln(ODA)3]·2NaClO4·6H2O (Ln = Ce–Yb; ODA = oxydiacetate) series. Inorganic Chemistry, 62 (4), 1328-1340. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c01764

Ab initio investigation of the Na3[Ln(ODA)3]·2NaClO4·6H2O (Ln = Ce–Yb; ODA = oxydiacetate) series

2023

Journal Article

Designing tailored thiosemicarbazones with bespoke properties: the styrene moiety imparts potent activity, inhibits heme center oxidation, and results in a novel “Stealth Zinc(II) Complex”

Dharmasivam, Mahendiran, Kaya, Busra, Wijesinghe, Tharushi, Gholam Azad, Mahan, Gonzálvez, Miguel A., Hussaini, Mohammad, Chekmarev, Jason, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Richardson, Des R. (2023). Designing tailored thiosemicarbazones with bespoke properties: the styrene moiety imparts potent activity, inhibits heme center oxidation, and results in a novel “Stealth Zinc(II) Complex”. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 66 (2), 1426-1453. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01600

Designing tailored thiosemicarbazones with bespoke properties: the styrene moiety imparts potent activity, inhibits heme center oxidation, and results in a novel “Stealth Zinc(II) Complex”

2022

Journal Article

Molecular networking and cultivation profiling reveals diverse natural product classes from an Australian soil-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. CMB-MRF324

Wu, Taizong, Salim, Angela A., Bernhardt, Paul V. and Capon, Robert J. (2022). Molecular networking and cultivation profiling reveals diverse natural product classes from an Australian soil-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. CMB-MRF324. Molecules, 27 (24) 9066, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/molecules27249066

Molecular networking and cultivation profiling reveals diverse natural product classes from an Australian soil-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. CMB-MRF324

2022

Journal Article

Unearthing the subtleties of rhodium(II)-catalyzed carbenoid cycloadditions to furans with an N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole probe

Bettencourt, Christian J., Krainz, Tanja, Chow, Sharon, Parr, Brendan T., Tracy, William F., Bernhardt, Paul V., Davies, Huw M. L. and Williams, Craig M. (2022). Unearthing the subtleties of rhodium(II)-catalyzed carbenoid cycloadditions to furans with an N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole probe. Organic Letters, 24 (50), 9290-9295. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c03869

Unearthing the subtleties of rhodium(II)-catalyzed carbenoid cycloadditions to furans with an N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole probe

2022

Journal Article

Noonindoles A–F: Rare indole diterpene amino acid conjugates from a marine-derived fungus, Aspergillus noonimiae CMB-M0339

Kankanamge, Sarani, Khalil, Zeinab G., Bernhardt, Paul V. and Capon, Robert J. (2022). Noonindoles A–F: Rare indole diterpene amino acid conjugates from a marine-derived fungus, Aspergillus noonimiae CMB-M0339. Marine Drugs, 20 (11) 698, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/md20110698

Noonindoles A–F: Rare indole diterpene amino acid conjugates from a marine-derived fungus, Aspergillus noonimiae CMB-M0339

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Emergent organocopper complexes as robust catalysts for electrosynthesis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    An Innovative, Non-Hormonal, Pharmacological Strategy that Down-Regulates the Oestrogen, Androgen, Progesterone, and Prolactin Receptors and Inhibits the Triad-of-Death in Breast Cancer (Griffith led)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Pharmaceutical Development of Innovative "Trojan Horse" Anti-Cancer Agents that Inhibit Desmoplasia by Reprogramming Signalling (NHMRC Ideas Grant administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Bioelectrochemical interconversion of the building blocks of life
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    High-Resolution Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Pioneering stable copper carbanions for new C-C bond forming paradigms
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Molybdenum enzyme electrochemical communication
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    To Biochemically Trick P-Glycoprotein (Pgp) to Target Resistance via Lysosomal Pgp (NHMRC Project Grant led by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Advanced X-ray Facility for Structural Elucidation and Photocrystallography
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Enzyme Electrochemical Communication
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    The fate of copper in atom transfer radical reactions
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    A facility for ex-vivo molecular imaging
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Facilities for Integrated Bioinorganic and Materials Chemistry Research
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Short circuiting redox enzymes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010
    An integrated high -throughput fluorescence imaging facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Spotlighting Biologically Active Fe Chelators within Cells
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Pharmacology of Potential Anti-Tumour Agents: Iron Chelators of the BpT Class (NHMRC project grant administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Electrochemically Driven Molybdoenzyme Catalysis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    An X-Ray Diffraction Facility for Molecular Structure Determination
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Chemical and Biochemical Characterisation of Novel Iron Chelators with Therapeutic Potential
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Examination of the molecular pharmacology of anthracyclines induced via their interaction with iron
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Mechanistic Studies on Biologically Active Iron Chelators
    ARC Linkage International
    Open grant
  • 2005
    New synthetic routes to the immobilisation of mixed valence transition metal complexes on conducting metal oxides
    ARC Linkage International
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Australian Bio-Metals Research Network
    ARC Seed Funding for Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Chemical and Biochemical Characterisation of Novel Iron Chelators with Therapeutic Potential
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Research expenses for visiting Research Fellow (Dr A. Meacham)
    The Royal Society
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    Mechanistic Studies of Dimethylsulfide Dehydrogenase: A Novel Bacterial Molybdoenzyme
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Novel Molecular Electrochronic Devices
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Single electron reactions of multi-redox centred systems (CREDITS ONLY AWARDED)
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi-redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Excited state dynamics of light induced molecular processes.
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2002
    Mixed-Valence Transition Metal Assemblies
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Self-assembling transition metal arrays
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Toward discrete dinuclear cyano-bridged coordination compounds
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Macrocyclic receptors for ionic guests
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Toward supramolecular charge separated molecules
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1998
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi-redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Toward Proactive Supramolecular Coordination Compounds
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi-redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Structurally organised oligonuclear coordination compounds
    University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Paul Bernhardt is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing novel copper catalysts for carbon-carbon bond forming reactions using electrosynthesis.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams, Dr Masnun Naher

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Quantum Chemistry as a tool for Spectroscopic Analysis

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Quantum Chemistry as a tool for Spectroscopic Analysis

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of innovative synthetic methodologies: electrochemical Atom Transfer Radical Addition (eATRA) and strained nitrogen ring synthesis paradigms

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams

  • Doctor Philosophy

    New Applications for Photoactive Lanthanoid and Earth Abundant Metal Complexes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Evan Moore

  • Doctor Philosophy

    New Applications for Photoactive Lanthanoid and Earth Abundant Metal Complexes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Evan Moore

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Pioneering stable copper carbanions for new C-C bond forming paradigms

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Electrochemical investigations of bacterial molybdenum enzymes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Paul Bernhardt directly for media enquiries about:

  • Crystallography
  • Electrochemistry
  • Transition metal chemistry

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