Personal details
- Name
- Dr Kathleen Mullen
- Position(s)
- Senior Lecturer
Science and Engineering Faculty,
School of Chemistry & Physics - Discipline *
- Analytical Chemistry, Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
- Phone
- +61 7 3138 2393
- kathleen.mullen@qut.edu.au
- Location
- View location details (QUT staff and student access only)
- Identifiers and profiles
-
- Qualifications
-
PhD (University of New England)
Biography
Research Discipline : Chemistry
Research Area
This concept of creating molecular electronic devices has resulted in the development and rapid advance of the field of supramolecular chemistry. Synthetic developments using fundamental concepts such as preorganisation, molecular recognition, self-assembly and template-directed synthesis has resulted in a dramatic increase in the quantity and variety of supramolecular systems that can be made with the potential for functioning as molecular devices.
Our work looks at using interlocked architectures as the basis for the development of
- Sensors : which can encapsulate and sense environmentally or medicinally important anions;
- Switches or shuttles : in which the orientation or properties of an interlocked system can be changed through the application of external stimuli; and
- Solid tethered supramolecular systems : to determine the impact of surface confinement on the dynamic molecules and ultimately move towards systems with more practical applications
Areas of Expertise
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Organic synthesis
- Molecular recognition
Selected Research Projects
- Anion Sensing by Mechanically-Interlocked Molecules
- pH ‘Switchable’ Catenanes and Rotaxanes
- Surface Tethered Molecular Devices
Career Highlights
- Current – Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology
- 2009-2011 – Postdoctoral research at the University of Edinburgh
- 2007-2009 – Postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford
- 2004-2007 – PhD in Chemistry at the University of New England
- 2000-2002 – B. Science (Adv) with 1st Class Honours at the University of New England
Teaching
Teaching Discipline : Chemistry
Teaching areas : Organic chemistry
Publications
- Li Y, Mullen K, Sardinha J, Felix V, Beer P, (2011) Clipping and stoppering anion templated synthesis of a [2]rotazane host system, Dalton Transactions p12180-12190
- Altieri A, Aucagne V, Carrillo R, Clarkson G, D'Souza D, Dunnett J, Leigh D, Mullen K, (2011) Sulfur-containing amide-based [2]rotaxanes and molecular shuttles, Chemical Science p1922-1928
- Ahmed R, Altieri A, D'Souza D, Leigh D, Mullen K, Papmeyer M, Slawin A, Wong J, Woollins J, (2011) Phosphorus-based functional groups as hydrogen bonding templates for rotaxane formation, Journal of the American Chemical Society p12304-12310
- D'Souza D, Leigh D, Mottier L, Mullen K, Paolucci F, Teat S, Zhang S, (2010) Nitrone [2]rotaxanes: Simultaneous chemical protection and electrochemical activation of a functional group, Journal of the American Chemical Society p9465-9470
- Li Y, Mullen K, Claridge T, Costa P, Felix V, Beer P, (2009) Sulfate anion templated synthesis of a triply interlocked capsule, Chemical Communications p7134-7136
- Mullen K, Mercurio J, Serpell C, Beer P, (2009) Exploiting the 1,2,3-triazolium motif in anion-templated formation of a bromide-selective rotaxane host assembly, Angewandte Chemie (International Edition) p4781-4784
- Mullen K, Beer P, (2009) Sulfate anion templation of macrocycles, capsules, interpenetrated and interlocked structures, Chemical Society Reviews p1701-1713
- Brown A, Mullen K, Ryu J, Chmielewski M, Santos S, Felix V, Thompson A, Warren J, Pascu S, Beer P, (2009) Interlocked host anion recognition by an indolocarbazole-containing [2]rotaxane, Journal of the American Chemical Society p4937-4952
- Zhao L, Davis J, Mullen K, Chmielewski M, Jacobs R, Brown A, Beer P, (2009) Anion templated formation of pseudorotaxane and rotaxane monolayers on gold from neutral components, Langmuir p2935-2940
- Mullen K, Johnstone K, Webb M, Bampos N, Sanders J, Gunter M, (2008) Monitoring the thermodynamically-controlled formation of diimide-based resin-attached rotaxanes by gel-phase HR MAS 1H NMR spectroscopy, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry p278-286
Awards
Awards and recognition
- Type
- Recipient of a Nationally Competitive Research Fellowship
- Reference year
- 2011
- Details
- Fellowship Type: ARC Principal Research Fellowship Project Title: Synthetic molecular transporters External Reference : DP110100631 Years Awarded: 2011-2013 Total Funding Awarded: $288,673
Research projects
Grants and projects (Category 1: Australian Competitive Grants only)
- Title
- Synthetic Molecular Transporters
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP110100631
- Start year
- 2011
- Keywords
- Nanotechnology; Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry; Molecular Machines; Porphryins; Supramolecular Chemistry