School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences

Dr Anthony Day

Dr Anthony Day

Senior Lecturer
BSc, PhD ANU

Telephone: +61 2 6268 8972
Fax: +61 2 6268 8017
Email: a.day@adfa.edu.au
Location: PEMS Nth, Room 220

My UNSW Research Gateway Profile

Research Interests:
His research interests are based in the area of organic chemistry which includes synthetic design and the development of new synthetic techniques. Overall a broad view of chemistry is sort toward mechanistic understanding and the implementation of synthetic techniques in molecular design.

Molecular Design and Reaction Mechanisms



Current Research Projects

NTO (nitrotriazolone) is a new insensitive explosive that may replace RDX, the current military standard, in some applications. Due to its high water solubility, the wastewater from its manufacture cannot be treated by conventional means. We have been investigating alternative remediation methods based on electrochemical treatment for NTO, which may also be applicable for other organic explosives. These electrochemical methods are more environmentally friendly, since no additional chemical loading is required, and the only input is electricity.

Synthesis and characterization of new high nitrogen compounds (Dr Lynne Wallace, Dr Anthony Day, Dr Arthur Provatas, Dr Ann-Kristin Larsson)

Insensitive high explosives (IHEs) are an important area of research, due to the increased requirement for safer energetic materials in industrial and defence sectors. Azoxytriazolone (AZTO) is a new chemical species discovered by our research group, and preliminary results indicate it may possess potential as a new IHE. We are studying methods of synthesis of AZTO and other related compounds, and also investigating their solid-state and solution properties.

Synthesis, study and characterization of mono- and di- nuclear cobalt complexes to isolate metallo rotaxanes (a mechanically interlocked metalo architectures) (Dr Mokhlesur Rahman, Dr Anthony Day)

Rotaxanes are of interest for their potential use as molecular switch, nano-shuttles, molecular electronics and molecular muscles. Transition metal complexes as stoppers also offer the possibility for synthesis of metallo polyrotaxane. Moreover, having a transition metal within this supramolecular architecture furnishes it with specific photonic, electric and magnetic properties.

PhD Opportunities and Scholarships available within the Molecular Design and Reaction Mechanisms Research Group

Contact Dr Lynne Wallace , Dr Anthony Day or Dr Mokhlesur Rahman if you are interested in a PhD or Masters by Research in molecular design and reaction mechanisms.

Topics available include:

Recent Publications

Journal - refereed
  1. Pisani, M.J. Zhao, Y., Wallace, L., Woodward, C.E., Keene, F.R., Day, A.I. and Collins, J.G. 2010, Cucurbit[10]uril binding of dinuclear platinum(II) and ruthenium(II) complexes: Association/dissociation rates from seconds to hours, Dalton Transactions, 39, 2078-2086, doi:10.1039/B921172A.
  2. Uzunova, V.D., Cullinane, C., Brix, K., Nau, W.M., & Day, A.I., 2010, Toxicity of cucurbit[7]uril and cucurbit[8]uril: An
    exploratory in vitro and in vivo study, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 8(9), 2037-2042, doi:10.1039/B925555A .
  3. Xiao, X., He, L., Tao, Z., Xue, S., Zhu, Q. & Day, A.I., 2010, Supramolecular assemblies and modes of binding of the
    1,6-hexanedipyridinium ion and the HCl salt of N,N '-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-diaminoethane, with the
    symmetrically substituted tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril, Supramolecular Chemistry, 22, 194-201, doi:10.1080/10610270903262368.
  4. Zhao, Y., Pourgholami, M.H., Morris, D.L., Collins, J.G., & Day, A.I., 2010,Enhanced cytotoxicity of benzimidazole
    carbamate derivatives and solubilisation by encapsulation in cucurbit[n]uril, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry,
    8(14), 3328-3337, 10.1039/C003732J.
  5. Zhao, Y., Bali, M.S., Cullinane, C., Day, A.I., & Collins, J.G., 2009, Synthesis, cytotoxicity and cucurbituril binding of triamine
    linked dinuclear platinum complexes, Dalton Transactions, 26, 5190-5198, doi:10.1039/B905112K .
  6. Wallace, L., Cronin, M.P., Day, A.I., Buck, D.P., 2009, Electrochemical method applicable to treatment of wastewater from Nitrotriazolone production, Environmental Science and Technology, 43(6), 1993-1998.
  7. Ni, X., Lin, J., Zheng, Y., Wu, W., Zhang, Y. B, Xue, S., Zhu, Q., Tao, Z., Day, A. I., 2008, Supramolecular bracelets and interlocking rings elaborated through the interrelationship of neighboring chemical environments of alkyl-substitution on cucurbit[5]uril, Crystal Growth and Design, 8(9), 3446-3450.
  8. Zhao, Y., Buck, D.P., Morris, D.L., Pourgholami, M.H., Day, A.I. and Collins, J.G., 2008, Solubilisation and cytotoxicity of albendazole encapsulated in cucurbit[n]uril, Org. Biomol. Chem., 6(24), 4509-4515.
  9. Zheng, L., Zhu, J., Zhang, Y., Zhu, Q., Xue, S., Tao, Z., Zhang, J., Zhou, X., Wei, Z., Lasheng, L., & Day , A. , 2008 Opposing substitution in cucurbit[6]urils forms ellipsoid cavities ? the symmetrical dicyclohexanocucurbitt[6]uril is no exception highlighted by inclusion and exclusion complexes, Supramol. Chem., 20(8), 709-716.
  10. Cronin, M. P. , Day, A. I. , Wallace, L. , 2007, Electrochemical remediation produces a new high-nitrogen compound from NTO wastewaters, Journal of Hazardous Materials , 149(2), 527-531.
  11. Kemp, S., Wheate, N. J., Wang, S. T., Collins, J. G. , Ralph, S. F., Day, A. I. , Higgins, V. J. & Aldrich-Wright, J. R., 2007, Encapsulation of platinum(II)-based DNA intercalators within cucurbit[6,7,8]urils, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry , 12(7) , 969-979.

Grants