Dr A.F.M. Mokhlesur Rahman Lecturer MSc Rajsh., Dipl Chem, Dr rer nat Regensburg, MRACI, CChem School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences UNSW @ ADFA Canberra ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA Phone: +61 2 6268 8950 Fax: +61 2 6268 8017 Email: m.rahman@adfa.edu.au Location:PEMS Nth, Room 214

Research Interests:

Molecular Design and Reaction Mechanisms.

Biography

Mokhlesur Rahman obtained his BSc Hons and MSc (Class 1) from Rajshani University in 1971. After working as a Research Officer in BCSIR Laboratories, Dacca, for 5 years, he then completed the degree Dipl. Chem. in 1980 from the University of Regensburg and also Dr rer nat (PhD) in 1983 for research on organometallic chemistry from the same University under the supervision of Professor Henri Brunner. He then moved to Australia to take up a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Research School of Chemistry, ANU until 1986. Subsequently he accepted a temporary lectureship (1986-1987) at the University College. Following a short appointment in 1988 at ANU as Laboratory Development Supervisor, he returned to the University College in late 1988. He is a member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Outside interests include family, gardening and cooking.

Research

• Asymmetic Synthesis and Catalysis:
  Optically active transition metal complexes; synthetic organometallic and coordination complexes of catalytic importance; asymmetric synthesis and catalysis using chiral metal complexes; enantioselective and diastereoselective reaction of metal complexes; model enzyme systems and development of nonenzymic catalytic systems.

• Kinetics and Stereochemical Studies of Metal Complexes:
  Synthesis, separation and rearrangements of geometrical, linkage- and optical-isomer especially contating bulky ligands. Chiral metal centre as a probe for stereochemical studies.

• Metalo-Supramolecular Chemistry:
  Interactions, structures and stabilitity studies of metal complexes with synthetic receptor molecules.

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.

Selected Publications

H. Brunner and A.F.M.M. Rahman, Chelate ligands and their rhodium complexes with lateral asymmetric centers and their use in enantioselective catalysis, Z. Naturforsch., 1983, 38B, 1332-1338.

H. Brunner and A.F.M.M. Rahman, New optically active P,N ligands and their use in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation and hydrosilylation, Chem. Ber., 1984, 117, 710-724.

S.B. Wild and A.F.M.M. Rahman, Catalytic enantioselective hydrosilylation of prochiral ketones by rhodium(1) complexes containing the enantiomers of R*R*)-(1,2-phenylenebis-(methylphenylphosphine) and its arsenic isosters, J. Mol. Catalysis, 1987, 39, 155-160.

W.G. Jackson and A.F.M.M. Rahman, Isocyanocobalt(III) species: The identification of the elusive [(NH₃)₅ Co-NC]²⁺ ion, Inorg. Chem., 1990, 29, 3247-3250.

A.F.M.M. Rahman, S.B. Wild, G. Salem and F.S. Stephens, Rearrangements in tetrahedral nickel nitrosyl complexes: Crystal and molecular structure of syn-(R,S)[Ni(NO){P(OMe)₃} {1,2-phenylenebis-(methylphenylphosphine)}]PF₆, Inorg. Chem., 1990, 29, 5225.