
Overview
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
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
Research interests
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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.
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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
Works
Search Professor Paul Bernhardt’s works on UQ eSpace
2004
Conference Publication
Catalytic combustion of model carbon particles (CPs) over Pt/β-SiC catalyst
Pesant, L, Matta, J, Pham-Huu, C, Garin, F, Bernhardt, P, Pham, C and Ledoux, MJ (2004). Catalytic combustion of model carbon particles (CPs) over Pt/β-SiC catalyst. 6th International Congress on Catalysis and Automotive Pollution Control (CAPoC6), Brussels Belgium, Oct 22-24, 2003. NEW YORK: SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS. doi: 10.1023/B:TOCA.0000029763.88137.cb
2004
Journal Article
Electrochemical anion recognition with ferrocene functionalised macrocycles
Bernhardt, Paul V. and Creevey, Nicole L. (2004). Electrochemical anion recognition with ferrocene functionalised macrocycles. Journal of the Chemical Society. Dalton Transactions, 4 (6), 914-920. doi: 10.1039/b400538d
2004
Journal Article
Novel one-dimensional structures and solution behaviour of copper(II) bromide and chloride complexes of a new pentapyridyldiamine ligand
Lonnon, David G., Craig, Donald C., Colbran, Stephen B. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2004) Novel one-dimensional structures and solution behaviour of copper(II) bromide and chloride complexes of a new pentapyridyldiamine ligand. Dalton Transactions, 4 5: 778-787. doi:10.1039/b315202b
2004
Conference Publication
Ion motive electron transfer pathways involving type II molybdoenzymes of the DMSO reductase family
Mcewan, A. G., Bernhardt, P. V., Creevey, N., Hanson, G. R. and McDevitt, C. A. (2004). Ion motive electron transfer pathways involving type II molybdoenzymes of the DMSO reductase family. 13th European Bioenergetics Conference (EBEC 2004), Pisa, Italy, 21-26 Aug 2004. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier Science Bv. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2004.06.002
2004
Journal Article
The preparation and characterization of seven-coordinate tin(IV) complexes of the 2,6-diacetylpyridine Schiff bases of S-alkyl/aryl-dithiocarbazates and the X-ray crystal structure of the [Sn(dapsme)I-2] complex (dapsme=doubly deprotonated form of the 2,6
Ali, M. A., Mirza, A. H., Tan, A. L., Wei, L. K. and Bernhardt, P. V. (2004). The preparation and characterization of seven-coordinate tin(IV) complexes of the 2,6-diacetylpyridine Schiff bases of S-alkyl/aryl-dithiocarbazates and the X-ray crystal structure of the [Sn(dapsme)I-2] complex (dapsme=doubly deprotonated form of the 2,6. Polyhedron, 23 (11), 2037-2043. doi: 10.1016/j.poly.2004.05.010
2004
Journal Article
Novel one-dimensional structures and solution behaviour of copper(II) bromide and chloride complexes of a new pentapyridyldiamine ligand
Lonnon, David G., Craig, Donald C., Colbran, Stephen B. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2004). Novel one-dimensional structures and solution behaviour of copper(II) bromide and chloride complexes of a new pentapyridyldiamine ligand. Dalton Transactions, 2004 (5), 778-787. doi: 10.1039/b315202b
2004
Journal Article
Imidoylketene dimerization and rearrangement
George, L., Bernhardt, P. V., Netsch, K. P. and Wentrup, C. (2004). Imidoylketene dimerization and rearrangement. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2 (23), 3518-3523. doi: 10.1039/b412530d
2004
Journal Article
Oxidation of mixed-valence CoIII/FeII complexes reversed at high pH: A kinetico-mechanistic study of water oxidation
Bernhardt, P. V., Bozoglian, F., Macpherson, B. P., Martinez, M., Merbach, A. E., Gonzalez, G. and Sienra, B. (2004). Oxidation of mixed-valence CoIII/FeII complexes reversed at high pH: A kinetico-mechanistic study of water oxidation. Inorganic Chemistry, 43 (22), 7187-7195. doi: 10.1021/ic0493191
2004
Journal Article
Self-assembly of a charge-neutral molecular square
Ali, M. A., Bernhardt, P. V., Kiem, C. L. and Mirza, A. H. (2004). Self-assembly of a charge-neutral molecular square. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 57 (5), 409-413. doi: 10.1071/CH03319
2004
Journal Article
Unprecedented photochemical induced cascading rearrangement of the 3-azabicyclo[3.3.1] nonane skeleton
Williams, Craig M., Heim, Ralf, Brecknell, Douglas J. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2004). Unprecedented photochemical induced cascading rearrangement of the 3-azabicyclo[3.3.1] nonane skeleton. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 2 (6), 806-807. doi: 10.1039/b402200a
2004
Journal Article
Tuning the metal-to-metal charge transfer energy of cyano-bridged dinuclear complexes
Bernhardt, Paul V., Bozoglian, Fernando, Macpherson, Brendan P. and Martinez, Manuel (2004). Tuning the metal-to-metal charge transfer energy of cyano-bridged dinuclear complexes. Dalton Transactions (16), 2582-2587. doi: 10.1039/b407185a
2004
Journal Article
Cytochrome c(551) from Starkeya novella - Characterization, spectroscopic properties, and phylogeny of a diheme protein of the SoxAX family
Kappler, U., Aguey-Zinsou, K. F., Hanson, G. R., Bernhardt, P. V. and McEwan, A. G. (2004). Cytochrome c(551) from Starkeya novella - Characterization, spectroscopic properties, and phylogeny of a diheme protein of the SoxAX family. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279 (8), 6252-6260. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M310644200
2004
Journal Article
1H-1,3-Diazepines, 5H-1,3-diazepines, 1,3-diazepinones, and 2,4-diazabicyclo[3.2.0]heptenes
Reisinger, A., Koch, R., Bernhardt, P. V. and Wentrup, C. (2004). 1H-1,3-Diazepines, 5H-1,3-diazepines, 1,3-diazepinones, and 2,4-diazabicyclo[3.2.0]heptenes. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2 (8), 1227-1238. doi: 10.1039/b317099c
2004
Journal Article
Synthetic, spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic structural study of the monomeric [Cu(pysme)(sac)(MeOH)] and dimeric [Cu(6mptsc)(sac)](2) complexes [pysme = anion of the pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde Schiff base of S-methyldithiocarbazate, 6mptsc=the anio
Ali, M. A., Mirza, A. H., Ravoof, T. B. S. A. and Bernhardt, P. V. (2004). Synthetic, spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic structural study of the monomeric [Cu(pysme)(sac)(MeOH)] and dimeric [Cu(6mptsc)(sac)](2) complexes [pysme = anion of the pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde Schiff base of S-methyldithiocarbazate, 6mptsc=the anio. Polyhedron, 23 (11), 2031-2036. doi: 10.1016/j.poly.2004.05.007
2004
Journal Article
The critical role of tryptophan-116 in the catalytic cycle of dimethylsulfoxide reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus
Ridge, J. P., Aguey-Zinsou, K. F., Bernhardt, P. V., Hanson, G. R. and McEwan, A. G. (2004). The critical role of tryptophan-116 in the catalytic cycle of dimethylsulfoxide reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus. FEBS Letters, 563 (1-3), 197-202. doi: 10.1016/S0014-5793(04)00301-1
2004
Journal Article
Functionalized macrocycles from functionalized tetra-amines: Pendent-arm macrocycles derived from dichloropivalic acid
Bernhardt, P. V., Harrowfield, J. M., Kim, Y., Koutsantonis, G. A., Lee, Y. H. and Thuery, P. (2004). Functionalized macrocycles from functionalized tetra-amines: Pendent-arm macrocycles derived from dichloropivalic acid. Inorganic Chemistry, 43 (5), 1681-1688. doi: 10.1021/ic034913g
2004
Journal Article
The reaction of 8-amino-p-menthene derivatives with electrophiles
Bernhardt, P. V., Carman, R. M. and Derbyshire, R. P. C. (2004). The reaction of 8-amino-p-menthene derivatives with electrophiles. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 57 (6), 583-591. doi: 10.1071/CH03158
2004
Journal Article
The preparation and characterization of tin(IV) complexes of 2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde Schiff bases of S-methyl- and S-benzyldithiocarbazates and the X-ray crystal and molecular structures of the 2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde Schiff base of S-benzyldithi
Ali, M. A., Mirza, A., Hamid, M. H. S. A., Bujang, F. and Bernhardt, P. V. (2004). The preparation and characterization of tin(IV) complexes of 2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde Schiff bases of S-methyl- and S-benzyldithiocarbazates and the X-ray crystal and molecular structures of the 2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde Schiff base of S-benzyldithi. Polyhedron, 23 (15), 2405-2412. doi: 10.1016/j.poly.2004.07.015
2004
Journal Article
Electrochemical anion recognition with ferrocene functionalised macrocycles
Bernhardt, Paul V. and Creevey, Nicole L. (2004). Electrochemical anion recognition with ferrocene functionalised macrocycles. Dalton Transactions, 6 (6), 914-920. doi: 10.1039/b400538d
2004
Book Chapter
Cobalt
Bernhardt, P. V. and Lawrance, G. (2004). Cobalt. Comprehensive Coordination Chemistry II: From Biology to Nanotechnology. (pp. 1-145) edited by J. A. McCleverty and T. J. Meyer. Oxford: Elsevier/Pergamon. doi: 10.1016/B0-08-043748-6/05083-0
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Paul Bernhardt is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing novel copper catalysts for carbon-carbon bond forming reactions using electrosynthesis.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams, Dr Masnun Naher
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Doctor Philosophy
New Applications for Photoactive Lanthanoid and Earth Abundant Metal Complexes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Evan Moore
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Doctor Philosophy
Mass-Transfer Control-Enabled Electrochemical Reactions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Cantillo
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Doctor Philosophy
Electrochemical investigations of bacterial molybdenum enzymes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Immobilisation of human molybdenum enzymes for mediated electrochemical catalysis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Electrocatalysis at the Atypical Cu(II)-C bond: Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Studies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the Mechanisms of Transition Metal Catalysed Redox Reactions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Monteiro
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Tuning the redox potential of conducting polymeric films
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Philip Sharpe
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The molecular basis for sulfite oxidation in a bacterial sulfite dehydrogenase from Starkeya novella
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Mediated Electrochemistry of DMSO Reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Iron chelators in the treatment of cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Philip Sharpe
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and mechanistic investigations into Dimethylsulfide dehyddrogenase from Rhodovulum sulfidophilum; a moyybdoenzyme from the DMSO reductase family
Principal Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
ORALLY ACTIVE CHELATORS FOR THE TREATMENT OF IRON OVERLOAD DISEASES
Principal Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
DISCRETE CYANO-BRIDGED MIXED VALENCE SYSTEMS
Principal Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
A MACROCYCLIC SCAFFOLD FOR ELECTRONIC ENERGY TRANSFER AND PHOTOINDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER
Principal Advisor
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2002
Doctor Philosophy
INORGANIC COMPLEXES AS CANDIDATES FOR ENERGY UPCONVERSION MATERIALS
Principal Advisor
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2002
Doctor Philosophy
MACROCYCLIC COMPLEXES AS CHEMICAL RECEPTORS
Principal Advisor
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2025
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
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Modifications and a Mechanistic Study of the Ley-Griffith Oxidation, and Generation of Hydroxyl Radicals in the Gas Phase
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
REDOX PROPERTIES AND MEMBRANE LOCALIZATION OF HUMAN RECOMBINANT CYTOCHROME P450 SYSTEMS
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Gillam
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Paul Bernhardt directly for media enquiries about:
- Crystallography
- Electrochemistry
- Transition metal chemistry
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