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

557 works between 1987 and 2026
All (557) Journal Article (523) Other Outputs (1) Conference Publication (30) Book Chapter (3)

121 - 140 of 557 works

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

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

2018

Journal Article

The central active site arginine in sulfite oxidizing enzymes alters kinetic properties by controlling electron transfer and redox interactions

Hsiao, Ju-Chun, McGrath, Aaron P., Kielmann, Linda, Kalimuthu, Palraj, Darain, Farzana, Bernhardt, Paul V., Harmer, Jeffrey, Lee, Mihwa, Meyers, Kimberley, Maher, Megan J. and Kappler, Ulrike (2018). The central active site arginine in sulfite oxidizing enzymes alters kinetic properties by controlling electron transfer and redox interactions. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics, 1859 (1), 19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2017.10.001

The central active site arginine in sulfite oxidizing enzymes alters kinetic properties by controlling electron transfer and redox interactions

2018

Journal Article

NMR, X-Ray Crystal Structure Studies and Mechanism for Formation of a Novel Di-gallium Complex and 5-Methoxy-4,5,6-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazene-3(2H)-thione

Venkatachalam, T. K., Bernhardt, Paul V., Pierens, G. K. and Reutens, D. C. (2018). NMR, X-Ray Crystal Structure Studies and Mechanism for Formation of a Novel Di-gallium Complex and 5-Methoxy-4,5,6-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazene-3(2H)-thione. Journal of Chemical Crystallography, 49 (3), 131-138. doi: 10.1007/s10870-018-0745-z

NMR, X-Ray Crystal Structure Studies and Mechanism for Formation of a Novel Di-gallium Complex and 5-Methoxy-4,5,6-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazene-3(2H)-thione

2017

Journal Article

Redox-coupled structural changes in copper chemistry: Implications for atom transfer catalysis

Zerk, Timothy J. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2017). Redox-coupled structural changes in copper chemistry: Implications for atom transfer catalysis. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 375, 173-190. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2017.11.016

Redox-coupled structural changes in copper chemistry: Implications for atom transfer catalysis

2017

Journal Article

Elucidating the mechanism of the Ley-Griffith (TPAP) alcohol oxidation

Zerk, Timothy J., Moore, Peter W., Harbort, Joshua S., Chow, Sharon, Byrne, Lindsay, Koutsantonis, George A., Harmer, Jeffrey R., Martinez, Manuel, Williams, Craig M. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2017). Elucidating the mechanism of the Ley-Griffith (TPAP) alcohol oxidation. Chemical Science, 8 (12), 8435-8442. doi: 10.1039/c7sc04260d

Elucidating the mechanism of the Ley-Griffith (TPAP) alcohol oxidation

2017

Journal Article

Chemical Diversity from a Chinese Marine Red Alga, Symphyocladia latiuscula

Xu, Xiuli, Yang, Haijin, Khalil, Zeinab G, Yin, Liyuan, Xiao, Xue, Neupane, Pratik, Bernhardt, Paul V, Salim, Angela A, Song, Fuhang and Capon, Robert J (2017). Chemical Diversity from a Chinese Marine Red Alga, Symphyocladia latiuscula. Marine drugs, 15 (12) 374, 1-10. doi: 10.3390/md15120374

Chemical Diversity from a Chinese Marine Red Alga, Symphyocladia latiuscula

2017

Journal Article

A nanoporous cytochrome c film with highly ordered porous structure for sensing of toxic vapors

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Kalimuthu, Palraj, Benzigar, Mercy, Shelat, Kinnari J., Lakhi, Kripal S., Park, Dae-Hwan, Ji, Qingmin, Ariga, Katsuhiko, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Vinu, Ajayan (2017). A nanoporous cytochrome c film with highly ordered porous structure for sensing of toxic vapors. Advanced Materials, 29 (42) 1702295, 1702295. doi: 10.1002/adma.201702295

A nanoporous cytochrome c film with highly ordered porous structure for sensing of toxic vapors

2017

Journal Article

Kinetico-mechanistic Study on the Oxidation of Biologically Active Iron(II) Bis(thiosemicarbazone) Complexes by Air. Importance of NH···O2 Interactions As Established by Activation Volumes

Bernhardt, Paul V, Gonzálvez, Miguel A and Martínez, Manuel (2017). Kinetico-mechanistic Study on the Oxidation of Biologically Active Iron(II) Bis(thiosemicarbazone) Complexes by Air. Importance of NH···O2 Interactions As Established by Activation Volumes. Inorganic chemistry, 56 (22), 14284-14290. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.7b02381

Kinetico-mechanistic Study on the Oxidation of Biologically Active Iron(II) Bis(thiosemicarbazone) Complexes by Air. Importance of NH···O2 Interactions As Established by Activation Volumes

2017

Journal Article

A Novel Strategy to Introduce 18F, a Positron Emitting Radionuclide, into a Gallium Nitrate Complex: Synthesis, NMR, X-Ray Crystal Structure, and Preliminary Studies on Radiolabelling with 18F

Venkatachalam, Taracad K., Bernhardt, Paul V., Stimson, Damion H. R., Pierens, Gregory K., Bhalla, Rajiv and Reutens, David C. (2017). A Novel Strategy to Introduce 18F, a Positron Emitting Radionuclide, into a Gallium Nitrate Complex: Synthesis, NMR, X-Ray Crystal Structure, and Preliminary Studies on Radiolabelling with 18F. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 71 (3), 81-86. doi: 10.1071/CH17334

A Novel Strategy to Introduce 18F, a Positron Emitting Radionuclide, into a Gallium Nitrate Complex: Synthesis, NMR, X-Ray Crystal Structure, and Preliminary Studies on Radiolabelling with 18F

2017

Journal Article

Human mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component (mARC): An electrochemical method for identifying new substrates and inhibitors

Kalimuthu, Palraj, Havemeyer, Antje, Clement, Bernd, Kubitza, Christian, Scheidig, Axel J. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2017). Human mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component (mARC): An electrochemical method for identifying new substrates and inhibitors. Electrochemistry Communications, 84, 90-93. doi: 10.1016/j.elecom.2017.10.003

Human mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component (mARC): An electrochemical method for identifying new substrates and inhibitors

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2029
    Rewiring enzymes for direct electrochemistry
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 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

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    High-Resolution Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    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
  • 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

    Electrochemical investigations of bacterial molybdenum enzymes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigations of Multicomponent Photoredox Reactions

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Evan Moore

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mass-Transfer Control-Enabled Electrochemical Reactions

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr David Cantillo

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Paul Bernhardt directly for media enquiries about:

  • Crystallography
  • Electrochemistry
  • Transition metal chemistry

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