UC Spark

Associate Professor Richard Michael Hartshorn

Chemistry

Fields of Research

  • Anti-cancer drug design
  • Bio-inorganic chemistry
  • Co-ordination chemistry
  • Inorganic photochemistry
  • Ligand design and synthesis

Researcher Summary

The reactivity of small, biologically relevant molecules when they are bound to metal ions.

The reactivities of small molecules are modified when they are coordinated to metal ions. Nature exploits these effects on reactivity in the construction of many enzyme active sites, and thereby achieves catalysis of reactions which would otherwise proceed too slowly to be useful in a living system. As a result of our studies, we hope to gain insights in to the ways in which nature achieves and controls such chemical reactions. These studies may also point to the ways in which such chemistry may go astray, for example through undesirable reactions induced by UV light.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Groups

Key Methodologies

  • Ion Exchange Chromatography
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
  • Photolysis

Affiliations

Publications

(Selected outputs for last six years)

  • Brimble, M.A., Black, D.StC., Hartshorn, R., Rauter, A.P., Sha, C-K. and Sydnes, L.K. (2013) Rules for abbreviation of protecting groups (IUPAC Technical Report). Pure and Applied Chemistry 85(1): 307-313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REP-12-07-12. (Journal Article)
  • Downward, A.M., Polson, M.I.J., Kerr, W.R., Kariyawasam, J. and Hartshorn, R.M. (2013) Synthesis of a nitrogen mustard ligand on a cobalt(III) metal centre. Polyhedron (early access online) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2012.08.002. (Journal Article)
  • Kirkland, N.T., Waterman, J., Birbilis, N., Dias, G., Woodfield, T.B.F., Hartshorn, R.M. and Staiger, M.P. (2012) Buffer-regulated biocorrosion of pure magnesium. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 23(2): 283-291. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10856-011-4517-y. (Journal Article)
  • Cooper, R.J., Jane, R.T., Jeffs, T.E., Hartshorn, R.M. and Tasker, P.A. (2012) Cobalt(III) complexes as functional ligands for metal (oxide) surfaces. Chemical Communications 48: 9583-9585. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c2cc34598f. (Journal Article)
  • Downward, A.M., Jane, R.T., Polson, M.I.J., Moore, E.G. and Hartshorn, R.M. (2012) Heterodinuclear ruthenium(II)-cobalt(III) complexes as models for a new approach to selective cancer treatment. Dalton Transactions 41(47): 14425-14432. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C2DT31986A. (Journal Article)
  • Wilson-Coutts, S.M., Browne, J.M.W., Marsh, L.C., Polson, M.I.J. and Hartshorn, R.M. (2012) High diastereoselectivity in borohydride reductions of coordinated imines. Dalton Transactions 41(5): 1591-1596. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C1DT11704A. (Journal Article)
  • Williamson, B. and Hartshorn, R. (2012) The seismic impact on chemistry teaching and research at University of Canterbury. Chemistry Education in New Zealand (ChemEd NZ) 127(May 2012): 2-8. (Journal Article)
  • Thornley, P.A., Starkey, J.C., Zibaseresht, R., Polson, M.I.J., Wikaira, J.L. and Hartshorn, R.M. (2011) 4'-(o-Toluyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine: synthesis, bromination, complexation, and X-ray crystallographic characterization. Journal of Coordination Chemistry 64(1): 145-158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00958972.2010.546397. (Journal Article)
  • Hartshorn, R.M. (2011) Additive nomenclature and the nomenclature of coordination compounds. In G.J. Leigh (Ed.), Principles of Chemical Nomenclature: A Guide to IUPAC Recommendations. IUPAC Chemical Nomenclature Series (2011 ed.): 85-108. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry (& IUPAC). (Chapter in Book)
  • Hartshorn, R.M. and Favre, H.A. (2011) Name construction and deconstruction. In G.J. Leigh (Ed.), Principles of Chemical Nomenclature: A Guide to IUPAC Recommendations. IUPAC Chemical Nomenclature Series (2011 ed.): 181-189. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry (& IUPAC). (Chapter in Book)
  • Downward, A.M., Moore, E.G. and Hartshorn, R.M. (2011) Photoinduced ligand release in a ruthenium(II)-cobalt(III) heterodinuclear system. Chemical Communications 47(27): 7692-7694. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c1cc12729b. (Journal Article)
  • Zibaseresht, R., Downward, A.M. and Hartshorn, R.M. (2010) Coordination Chemistry of Some Terpyridyl-Polyamine Bridging Ligands. Australian Journal of Chemistry 63(4): 669-679. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/CH09478. (Journal Article)
  • Krumdieck, S.P., Reyngoud, B.P., Barnett, A.D., Clearwater, D.J., Hartshorn, R.M., Bishop, C.M., Redwood, B.P. and Palmer, E.L. (2010) Deposition of Bio-Integration Ceramic Hydroxyapatite by Pulsed-Pressure MOCVD Using a Single Liquid Precursor Solution. Chemical Vapor Deposition 16(1-3): 55-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cvde.200906839. (Journal Article)
  • Downward, A.M., Hartshorn, R.M. and Moore, E.G. (2010) Photo-activated Cytotoxins - Heterodinuclear Ru(II)-Co(III) Complexes with Potential Future Application as a Selective Cancer Treatment. Adelaide, Australia: International Conference on Coordination Chemistry ICCC39, 26-30 Jul 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Hartshorn, R.M., Downward, A.M., Wishart, S.M. and Moore, E.G. (2010) Photo-activated Cytotoxins - Synthesis and Photochemistry of Heterodinuclear Ru(II)-Co(III) Complexes. Adelaide, Australia: 39th International Conference on Coordination Chemistry (ICCC39), 25-30 Jul 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Jane, R.T., Hartshorn, R.M., Tasker, P.A. and Cooper, R.J. (2010) Surface binding and corrosion inhibition on iron of some cobalt(III) complexes. Adelaide, Australia: International Conference on Coordination Chemistry ICCC39, 26-30 Jul 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Peterson, S.S., Kirby, T., Kadarkaraisamy, M., Hartshorn, R.M. and Sykes, A.G. (2009) Chelating, bridging, and chain structures within Ag(I) and Cu(I) complexes of bis(nicotinyloxy), bis(isonicotinyloxy), and bis(pyrimidine-5-carboxyloxy)-1,8-disubstituted anthraquinone ligands. Polyhedron 28(14): 3031-3035. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2009.06.024. (Journal Article)
  • Clearwater, D., Hartshorn, R.M. and Krumdieck, S. (2009) Exploring Multiple Precursors in Pulsed-Pressure-MOCVD. Vienna, Austria: EuroCVD-17 and CVD XVII, 4-9 Oct 2009. In ECS Transactions 25(8) 973-977. http://dx.doi.org/10.1149/1.3207694. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Sharwood, J., Corrigan, D., Gordon, J., Hartshorn, R., Kronenberg, R., McLaughlin, M., Rodrigues, S., Sweeney, T., Taylor, N. and Willis, J. (2007) Nelson Chemistry VCE Units 1&2. (2nd ed.). Melbourne: Nelson Thomson Learning. 492pp. (Authored Book)
  • Hartshorn, R., Stockwell, S., Lebedev, M. and Krumdieck, S. (2007) Precursor system for bio-integration ceramics and deposition onto tantala scaffold bone interface surfaces. Surface and Coatings Technology 201(22-23): 9413-9416. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2007.04.042. (Journal Article)
  • Hartshorn, R.M., Hey-Hawkins, E., Kalio, R. and Leigh, G.J. (2007) Representation of configuration in coordination polyhedra and the extension of current methodology to coordination numbers greater than six. Pure and Applied Chemistry 79(10): 1779-1799. http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200779101779. (Journal Article)