This thesis by publication includes an introductory chapter and a comprehensive literature review that together provide the research context and outline the aims and significance of the work on biomassderived chiral synthons. The subsequent chapters present a series of research articles describing the development of new transformations of the biomass derivatives levoglucosenone (LGO) and Cyrene.

Chapter 1 provides an overview of existing literature about LGO and Cyrene, as well as general transformations of enamines. Chapter 2 describes the intermolecular enamine-Mizoroki–Heck reaction of enamines derived from Cyrene, to yield a series of arylated tertiary amines in good yields and diastereoselectivity. Chapter 3 details a ring-expansion strategy for Cyrene using gemdihalocyclopropane intermediates, enabling controlled formation of ring-expanded alkenyl halides and homologated levoglucosenone. Chapter 4 investigates a one-carbon difluorocyclopropanation/ringexpansion sequence to access fluorinated analogues of Cyrene. In Chapter 5, a traceless methylene insertion into Cyrene with ethyl diazoacetate was achieved, which was further functionalised, demonstrating scalable access to chiral C7 synthons.

Chapter 6 reports the synthesis of feeding modulators 3-deoxy-D-arabino- and D-ribono-1,4-lactones from Cyrene via a diastereoselective bromination using an enamine. Installation of oxygen nucleophiles was achieved, with stereochemical outcomes rationalised by oxirane intermediates and rearrangements. Chapter 7 describes the preparation of halogenated butyrolactones from levoglucosenone, affording fluorinated, chlorinated, and brominated dideoxyribonolactones.

Chapter 8 investigates the skeletal rearrangement of the 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-4-ol ring system via either SOCl₂/pyridine or Appel conditions, providing access to novel bicyclic ring-systems. In Chapter 9, an acid-catalyzed redox isomerization of substituted 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-4-ols yielded chiral pyranones, while kinetic isotope effects studies allowed mechanistic insights into the formation of LGO during pyrolysis. Chapter 10 details the synthesis of two bioactive compounds from LGO through Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, cyclopropanation, and oxidation, describing alternative pathways for the synthesis of a σ-receptor ligand. Chapter 11 develops a N-heterocyclic carbene switchable mechanism for the direct arylation of alkyl and aryl thiols with aryl iodides via benzyne and radical pathways.

A concluding chapter synthesises the findings from these publications, highlighting their collective contribution to advancing biomass-derived chemical synthesis and outlining future research directions.

A voluminous empirical literature has examined scale economies in public organisations, particularly in local government. By contrast, little effort has been directed at the empirical investigation of economies of scale in higher education administration, including in Australian universities. To address this gap in the empirical literature, this paper examines administrative scale economies and task density in Australian public universities for the period 2009/10–2018/19 using a pooled data framework. We find that there are administrative scale economies in Australian universities and that task density is a key determinant of administrative intensity. In addition, regional universities exhibit a higher level of administrative intensity than their metropolitan counterparts. We conclude by canvassing some of the main public policy implications of our findings.

Tasmanian writer/producer Victoria Madden has made no secret of the influence of Scandinavian noir (also known as Nordic noir) on her work. After working in the United Kingdom and Ireland on several prestige television productions, Madden moved back to her native Tasmania and created two locally set and shot limited television series: The Kettering Incident (2016) and The Gloaming (2020). These well-received crime series – dubbed ‘Tassie noir’ by the local press – have staked out a place within the wider emerging genre of Australian noir and the perennially popular global television crime market. The Tasmanian landscape lends itself to comparison with Scandi and other European ‘noirs’ (such as Scots noir) due to its climate and topography, as well as for depicting crime narratives set in remote or marginal places. Looming mountains, treacherous coastlines and cold, rainy weather all contribute to their gothic-noir style. This article will examine Madden’s two programmes in comparison with two classic Scandi noir series, Forbrydelsen (The Killing) (2007–12) and Bron | Broen (The Bridge) (2011–18), tracing commonalties in narrative construction, character, mood and the use of landscape.

A substantial empirical literature has examined the relationships between organizational characteristics and performance across the public sector, including the determinants of financial sustainability in local government. However, with the exception of one 2020 source, no attempt has been made to investigate the impact of administrative intensity on municipal financial sustainability. To address this gap in the empirical literature, this article examines the influence of administrative intensity on financial sustainability in the Victorian state local government system in Australia, as proxied by financial sustainability ratios, over the period 2014/15– 2018/19. In addition, we consider whether variations in the relationship between administrative intensity and financial sustainability exist between rural and urban Victorian local authorities. We find that administrative intensity significantly affects the financial sustainability indices of local councils. In addition, there are differences across rural and urban councils in the association between financial sustainability and administrative intensity. The study concludes with a brief discussion of its broader policy implications.