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)

101 - 120 of 545 works

2019

Journal Article

The cubane paradigm in bioactive molecule discovery: further scope, limitations and the cyclooctatetraene complement

Houston, Sevan D., Fahrenhorst-Jones, Tyler, Xing, Hui, Chalmers, Benjamin A., Sykes, Melissa L., Stok, Jeanette E., Farfan Soto, Clementina, Burns, Jed M., Bernhardt, Paul V., De Voss, James J., Boyle, Glen M., Smith, Maree T., Tsanaktsidis, John, Savage, G. Paul, Avery, Vicky M. and Williams, Craig M. (2019). The cubane paradigm in bioactive molecule discovery: further scope, limitations and the cyclooctatetraene complement. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 17 (28), 6790-6798. doi: 10.1039/c9ob01238a

The cubane paradigm in bioactive molecule discovery: further scope, limitations and the cyclooctatetraene complement

2019

Journal Article

Cover Feature: Electrocatalysis of a Europium‐Dependent Bacterial Methanol Dehydrogenase with Its Physiological Electron‐Acceptor Cytochrome <i>c<sub>GJ</sub></i> (Chem. Eur. J. 37/2019)

Kalimuthu, Palraj, Daumann, Lena J., Pol, Arjan, Op den Camp, Huub J. M. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2019). Cover Feature: Electrocatalysis of a Europium‐Dependent Bacterial Methanol Dehydrogenase with Its Physiological Electron‐Acceptor Cytochrome cGJ (Chem. Eur. J. 37/2019). Chemistry – A European Journal, 25 (37), 8651-8651. doi: 10.1002/chem.201901461

Cover Feature: Electrocatalysis of a Europium‐Dependent Bacterial Methanol Dehydrogenase with Its Physiological Electron‐Acceptor Cytochrome <i>c<sub>GJ</sub></i> (Chem. Eur. J. 37/2019)

2019

Journal Article

Synthesis of 18F-radiolabeled diphenyl gallium dithiosemicarbazone using a novel halogen exchange method and in vivo biodistribution

Venkatachalam, T.K., Stimson, D.H.R., Bhalla, R., Mardon, K., Bernhardt, Paul.V. and Reutens, D.C. (2019). Synthesis of 18F-radiolabeled diphenyl gallium dithiosemicarbazone using a novel halogen exchange method and in vivo biodistribution. Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals, 62 (7), 321-331. doi: 10.1002/jlcr.3746

Synthesis of 18F-radiolabeled diphenyl gallium dithiosemicarbazone using a novel halogen exchange method and in vivo biodistribution

2019

Journal Article

Synthesis and characterisation of indium(iii) bis-thiosemicarbazone complexes: 18 F incorporation for PET imaging

Venkatachalam, Taracad K., Bernhardt, Paul V., Pierens, Gregory K., Stimson, Damion H. R., Bhalla, Rajiv and Reutens, David C. (2019). Synthesis and characterisation of indium(iii) bis-thiosemicarbazone complexes: 18 F incorporation for PET imaging. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 72 (5), 383-391. doi: 10.1071/CH18559

Synthesis and characterisation of indium(iii) bis-thiosemicarbazone complexes: 18 F incorporation for PET imaging

2019

Journal Article

Cyclooctatetraenes through valence isomerization of cubanes: scope and limitations

Houston, Sevan D., Xing, Hui, Bernhardt, Paul V., Vanden Berg, Timothy J., Tsanaktsidis, John, Savage, G. Paul and Williams, Craig M. (2019). Cyclooctatetraenes through valence isomerization of cubanes: scope and limitations. Chemistry: A European Journal, 25 (11), 2735-2739. doi: 10.1002/chem.201805124

Cyclooctatetraenes through valence isomerization of cubanes: scope and limitations

2019

Journal Article

Cyclooctatetraene: a&nbsp;bioactive cubane paradigm complement

Xing, Hui, Houston, Sevan D., Chen, Xuejie, Ghassabian, Sussan, Fahrenhorst-Jones, Tyler, Kuo, Andy, Murray, Cody-Ellen P., Conn, Kyna-Anne, Jaeschke, Kara N., Jin, Da-Yun, Pasay, Cielo, Bernhardt, Paul V., Burns, Jed M., Tsanaktsidis, John, Savage, G. Paul, Boyle, Glen M., De Voss, James J., McCarthy, James, Walter, Gimme H., Burne, Thomas H. J., Smith, Maree T., Tie, Jian-Ke and Williams, Craig M. (2019). Cyclooctatetraene: a&nbsp;bioactive cubane paradigm complement. Chemistry: A European Journal, 25 (11), 2729-2734. doi: 10.1002/chem.201806277

Cyclooctatetraene: a&nbsp;bioactive cubane paradigm complement

2019

Journal Article

Element 27-Cobalt

Bernhardt, Paul V. (2019). Element 27-Cobalt. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 72 (4), 241-243. doi: 10.1071/CH19060

Element 27-Cobalt

2019

Journal Article

Hydrogen-bonding interactions in the Ley-Griffith oxidation: practical considerations for the synthetic chemist

Moore, Peter W., Zerk, Timothy J., Burns, Jed M., Bernhardt, Paul V. and Williams, Craig M. (2019). Hydrogen-bonding interactions in the Ley-Griffith oxidation: practical considerations for the synthetic chemist. European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2019 (2-3), 303-308. doi: 10.1002/ejoc.201800860

Hydrogen-bonding interactions in the Ley-Griffith oxidation: practical considerations for the synthetic chemist

2019

Journal Article

The fate of copper catalysts in atom transfer radical chemistry

Zerk, Timothy J., Gahan, Lawrence R., Krenske, Elizabeth H. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2019). The fate of copper catalysts in atom transfer radical chemistry. Polymer Chemistry, 10 (12), 1460-1470. doi: 10.1039/c8py01688g

The fate of copper catalysts in atom transfer radical chemistry

2019

Conference Publication

Development of novel [F-18]thiosemicarbazone metal fluoride complexes as potential neuroimaging agents

Stimson, D., Venkatachalam, T. K., Pierens, G. K., Bernhardt, P. V., Mardon, K., Reutens, D. C. and Bhalla, R. (2019). Development of novel [F-18]thiosemicarbazone metal fluoride complexes as potential neuroimaging agents. 32nd Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), Barcelona, Spain, 12-16 October 2019. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.

Development of novel [F-18]thiosemicarbazone metal fluoride complexes as potential neuroimaging agents

2018

Journal Article

Cover Feature: Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions in the Ley-Griffith Oxidation: Practical Considerations for the Synthetic Chemist (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2-3/2019)

Moore, Peter W., Zerk, Timothy J., Burns, Jed M., Bernhardt, Paul V. and Williams, Craig M. (2018). Cover Feature: Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions in the Ley-Griffith Oxidation: Practical Considerations for the Synthetic Chemist (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2-3/2019). European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2019 (2-3), 230-230. doi: 10.1002/ejoc.201801822

Cover Feature: Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions in the Ley-Griffith Oxidation: Practical Considerations for the Synthetic Chemist (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2-3/2019)

2018

Journal Article

Formation and reactivity of copper acetylacetone bis(thiosemicarbazone) complexes

Bilyj, Jessica K., Harmer, Jeffery R. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2018). Formation and reactivity of copper acetylacetone bis(thiosemicarbazone) complexes. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2018 (43), 4731-4741. doi: 10.1002/ejic.201801002

Formation and reactivity of copper acetylacetone bis(thiosemicarbazone) complexes

2018

Journal Article

Crystal structure of ethyl 2,4-dimethyl-1-phenyl-6-thioxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate: the product from the reaction of ethyl 3-aminocrotonate, phenylisothiocyanate and acetic anhydride

Cossar, Peter J., Russell, Cecilia C., McCluskey, Siobhann N., Pope, Dylan, Bernhardt, Paul V. and McCluskey, Adam (2018). Crystal structure of ethyl 2,4-dimethyl-1-phenyl-6-thioxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate: the product from the reaction of ethyl 3-aminocrotonate, phenylisothiocyanate and acetic anhydride. Journal of Chemical Crystallography, 48 (3), 91-95. doi: 10.1007/s10870-018-0714-6

Crystal structure of ethyl 2,4-dimethyl-1-phenyl-6-thioxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate: the product from the reaction of ethyl 3-aminocrotonate, phenylisothiocyanate and acetic anhydride

2018

Journal Article

Kineticomechanistic study of the redox pH cycling processes occurring on a robust water-soluble cyanido-bridged mixed-valence {CoIII/FeII}2 square

Alcázar, Laura, Bernhardt, Paul V., Ferrer, Montserrat, Font-Bardia, Mercè, Gallen, Albert, Jover, Jesús, Martínez, Manuel, Peters, Jack and Zerk, Timothy J. (2018). Kineticomechanistic study of the redox pH cycling processes occurring on a robust water-soluble cyanido-bridged mixed-valence {CoIII/FeII}2 square. Inorganic Chemistry, 57 (14), 8465-8475. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.8b01147

Kineticomechanistic study of the redox pH cycling processes occurring on a robust water-soluble cyanido-bridged mixed-valence {CoIII/FeII}2 square

2018

Journal Article

Novel chelators based on adamantane-derived semicarbazones and hydrazones that target multiple hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease

Palanimuthu, Duraippandi, Wu, Zhixuan, Jansson, Patric J., Braidy, Nady, Bernhardt, Paul V., Richardson, Des R. and Kalinowski, Danuta S. (2018). Novel chelators based on adamantane-derived semicarbazones and hydrazones that target multiple hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Dalton Transactions, 47 (21), 7190-7205. doi: 10.1039/c8dt01099d

Novel chelators based on adamantane-derived semicarbazones and hydrazones that target multiple hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease

2018

Journal Article

Electrocatalytic hydroxylation of sterols by steroid C25 dehydrogenase from Sterolibacterium denitrificans

Kalimuthu, Palraj, Wojtkiewicz, Agnieszka, Szaleniec, Maciej and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2018). Electrocatalytic hydroxylation of sterols by steroid C25 dehydrogenase from Sterolibacterium denitrificans. Chemistry: A European Journal, 24 (30), 7710-7717. doi: 10.1002/chem.201800616

Electrocatalytic hydroxylation of sterols by steroid C25 dehydrogenase from Sterolibacterium denitrificans

2018

Journal Article

Heteroatom-Interchanged Isomers of Lissoclinamide 5: Copper(II) Complexation, Halide Binding, and Biological Activity

Xie, Sida, Savchenko, Andrei I., Kerscher, Marion, Grange, Rebecca L., Krenske, Elizabeth H., Harmer, Jeffrey R., Bauer, Michelle J., Broit, Natasa, Watters, Dianne J., Boyle, Glen M., Bernhardt, Paul V., Parsons, Peter G., Comba, Peter, Gahan, Lawrence R. and Williams, Craig M. (2018). Heteroatom-Interchanged Isomers of Lissoclinamide 5: Copper(II) Complexation, Halide Binding, and Biological Activity. European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2018 (12), 1465-1476. doi: 10.1002/ejoc.201701659

Heteroatom-Interchanged Isomers of Lissoclinamide 5: Copper(II) Complexation, Halide Binding, and Biological Activity

2018

Journal Article

ATP3 and MTP3: easily prepared stable perruthenate salts for oxidation applications in synthesis

Moore, Peter W., Read, Christopher D. G., Bernhardt, Paul V. and Williams, Craig M. (2018). ATP3 and MTP3: easily prepared stable perruthenate salts for oxidation applications in synthesis. Chemistry: A European Journal, 24 (18), 4556-4561. doi: 10.1002/chem.201800531

ATP3 and MTP3: easily prepared stable perruthenate salts for oxidation applications in synthesis

2018

Journal Article

Spin Crossover in a Hexaamineiron(II) Complex: Experimental Confirmation of a Computational Prediction

Bernhardt, Paul V., Bilyj, Jessica K., Brosius, Victor, Chernyshov, Dmitry, Deeth, Robert J., Foscato, Marco, Jensen, Vidar R., Mertes, Nicole, Riley, Mark J. and Törnroos, Karl W. (2018). Spin Crossover in a Hexaamineiron(II) Complex: Experimental Confirmation of a Computational Prediction. Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany), 24 (20), 5082-5085. doi: 10.1002/chem.201705439

Spin Crossover in a Hexaamineiron(II) Complex: Experimental Confirmation of a Computational Prediction

2018

Journal Article

Isomerism and reactivity of nickel(ii) acetylacetonate bis(thiosemicarbazone) complexes

Bilyj, Jessica K., Riley, Mark J. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2018). Isomerism and reactivity of nickel(ii) acetylacetonate bis(thiosemicarbazone) complexes. Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003), 47 (6), 2018-2030. doi: 10.1039/c7dt04337f

Isomerism and reactivity of nickel(ii) acetylacetonate bis(thiosemicarbazone) complexes

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

    Quantum Chemistry as a tool for Spectroscopic Analysis

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Quantum Chemistry as a tool for Spectroscopic Analysis

    Principal Advisor

  • 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

    Electrochemical investigations of bacterial molybdenum enzymes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler

  • 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

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Paul Bernhardt directly for media enquiries about:

  • Crystallography
  • Electrochemistry
  • Transition metal chemistry

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