PhD(Chicago) MSc(Well)
Tel +64 3 479 7731
Location Science II, 2n10
Email jcrowley@chemistry.otago.ac.nz
For more information about the Crowley Research Group: http://blogs.otago.ac.nz/jamescrowley
Employment History and Qualifications
Professor, University of Otago 2015–
Senior Lecturer, University of Otago 2011-2015
Lecturer, University of Otago 2008–2011
British Ramsay Memorial Postdoctoral Fellow (with Prof. D. A. Leigh, FRS), University of Edinburgh 2006–2007
Postdoctoral Fellow (with Prof. D. A. Leigh, FRS), University of Edinburgh 2005–2006
S.M and Ph.D, The University of Chicago (Prof. B Bosnich, FRS) 2000-2005
B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc., Victoria University of Wellington (Dr. D. C. Weatherburn) 1994-1999
Awards and Distinctions
University of Otago, Division of Sciences Research Group of the Year 2016
Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), Organometallic Chemistry Award 2015
Finalist in OUSA Supervisor of the Year Awards 2015
Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ) Asian International Distinguished Lectureship Award 2015
Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), Alan Sargeson Lectureship 2014
Royal Society of Chemistry/New Zealand Institute of Chemistry Easterfield Award 2013
University of Otago Early Career Award for Distinction in Research 2011
British Ramsay Memorial Fellowship (U of Ed.) 2006-2008
Joan Shiu Award for Student Service, (U of C) 2004
Curtis-Gordon Scholarship for Chemistry (VUW) 1998
Relevant Disciplines
Organic / Inorganic / Organometallic / Materials / Supramolecular Chemistry / Nanoscience
My research interests are in synthetic organic, inorganic, organometallic and supramolecular chemistry. I am interested in the design and synthesis of new functional materials. I have expertise in a wide range of synthetic and spectroscopic techniques including NMR, IR, UV-vis and X-ray crystallography. Major areas of interest include:
CuAAC “Click” coordination chemistry. The mild and modular Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-cycloaddition of terminal alkynes with organic azides (the CuAAC “click” reaction) allows the ready formation of functionalised 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazole scaffolds and this has led to an explosion of interest in the coordination chemistry of these heterocycles. A diverse array of mono-, bi-, tri- and polydentate ligands incorporating 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazole units have been synthesised and characterised. Easy access to readily functionalised ligand architectures is of crucial importance in a range of different areas and we are exploiting these ligands for the development of new catalysts, metallo-pharmaceuticals, bio-imaging agents, metallosupramolecular architectures, and molecular machines.
Synthetic molecular machines (nanotechnology). It is well established that the fundamental processes of life at the cellular level are governed by complex biological molecular machines which convert chemical energy into work. My research group is interested in exploiting a range of interlocked and non-interlocked molecular architectures for the development of synthetic molecular machines. These efforts are motivated by the goal of creating synthetic devices or materials that, like their far more complex biological counterparts, could carry out tasks by exploiting controlled molecular-level mechanical motion; a key requirement for the development of useable nanotechnology.
Functional metallosupramolecular architectures. I am also interested in the engineering of functional molecular architectures via self-assembly. In particular we are attempting to exploit these self-assembled cages as novel metallo-pharmaceuticals, for drug delivery and as nanoreactors for carrying out chemical transformations.
Publications
Lisboa, L. S., Riisom, M., Dunne, H. J., Preston, D., Jamieson, S. M. F., Wright, L. J., … Crowley, J. D. (2022). Hydrazone- and imine-containing [PdPtL4]4+ cages: A comparative study of the stability and host-guest chemistry. Dalton Transactions. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1039/d2dt02720h
Vasdev, R. A. S., Preston, D., Casey-Stevens, C. A., Martí-Centelles, V., Lusby, P. J., Garden, A. L., & Crowley, J. D. (2022). Exploiting supramolecular interactions to control isomer distributions in reduced-symmetry [Pd2L4]4+ cages. Inorganic Chemistry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c00937
Lisboa, L. S., Preston, D., McAdam, C. J., Wright, L. J., Hartinger, C. G., & Crowley, J. D. (2022). Heterotrimetallic double cavity cages: Syntheses and selective guest binding. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, e202201700. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/anie.202201700
Crowley, J. D., Findlay, J. A., & Ross, D. A. W. (2022). Ferrocene rotary switches featuring 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole “click” chelates. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 5, e202100948. doi: 10.1002/ejic.202100948
Green, L. P. M., Steel, T. R., Riisom, M., Hanif, M., Söhnel, T., Jamieson, S. M. F., … Crowley, J. D., & Hartinger, C. G. (2021). Synthetic strategy towards heterodimetallic half-sandwich complexes based on a symmetric ditopic ligand. Frontiers in Chemistry, 9, 786367. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2021.786367
Crowley, J. D., Lisboa, L. S., & van Hilst, Q. V. C. (2021). Supramolecular systems: Metallo-molecular machines and stimuli responsive metallo-macrocycles and cages. In Reference module in chemistry, molecular sciences and chemical engineering. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-08-102688-5.00042-8
Chapter in Book - Research
Crowley, J. D., & McMorran, D. A. (2012). "Click triazole" Coordination chemistry: Exploiting 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles as ligands. In J. Košmrlj (Ed.), Click triazoles: Topics in heterocyclic chemistry (Vol. 28). (pp. 31-83). Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/7081_2011_67
Chapter in Book - Research
Crowley, J. D., Kilpin, K. J., & Keep, C. C. (2011). Exploiting ferrocene to develop synthetic molecular machines. In E. S. Phillips (Ed.), Ferrocenes: Compounds, properties and applications. (pp. 149-188). New York: Nova Science.
Chapter in Book - Research
Crowley, J. D., Kay, E. R., & Leigh, D. A. (2008). Chemically driven artificial molecular machines. In M. Shahinpoor & H.-J. Schneider (Eds.), Intelligent materials. (pp. 1-47). Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry.
Chapter in Book - Research
Crowley, J. D., Findlay, J. A., & Ross, D. A. W. (2022). Ferrocene rotary switches featuring 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole “click” chelates. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 5, e202100948. doi: 10.1002/ejic.202100948
Journal - Research Article
Lisboa, L. S., Preston, D., McAdam, C. J., Wright, L. J., Hartinger, C. G., & Crowley, J. D. (2022). Heterotrimetallic double cavity cages: Syntheses and selective guest binding. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, e202201700. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/anie.202201700
Journal - Research Article
Lisboa, L. S., Riisom, M., Dunne, H. J., Preston, D., Jamieson, S. M. F., Wright, L. J., … Crowley, J. D. (2022). Hydrazone- and imine-containing [PdPtL4]4+ cages: A comparative study of the stability and host-guest chemistry. Dalton Transactions. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1039/d2dt02720h
Journal - Research Article
Vasdev, R. A. S., Preston, D., Casey-Stevens, C. A., Martí-Centelles, V., Lusby, P. J., Garden, A. L., & Crowley, J. D. (2022). Exploiting supramolecular interactions to control isomer distributions in reduced-symmetry [Pd2L4]4+ cages. Inorganic Chemistry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c00937
Journal - Research Article
Green, L. P. M., Steel, T. R., Riisom, M., Hanif, M., Söhnel, T., Jamieson, S. M. F., … Crowley, J. D., & Hartinger, C. G. (2021). Synthetic strategy towards heterodimetallic half-sandwich complexes based on a symmetric ditopic ligand. Frontiers in Chemistry, 9, 786367. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2021.786367
Journal - Research Article
Lisboa, L. S., Riisom, M., Vasdev, R. A. S., Jamieson, S. M. F., Wright, L. J., Hartinger, C. G., & Crowley, J. D. (2021). Cavity-containing [Fe2L3]4+ helicates: An examination of host-guest chemistry and cytotoxicity. Frontiers in Chemistry, 9, 697684. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2021.697684
Journal - Research Article
Ross, D. A. W., Findlay, J. A., Vasdev, R. A. S., & Crowley, J. D. (2021). Can 2-Pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole “click” ligands be used to develop Cu(I)/Cu(II) molecular switches? ACS Omega, 6, 30115-30129. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.1c04977
Journal - Research Article
Ross, D. A. W., Mapley, J. I., Cording, A. P., Vasdev, R. A. S., McAdam, C. J., Gordon, K. C., & Crowley, J. D. (2021). 6,6'-ditriphenylamine-2,2'-bipyridine: Coordination chemistry and electrochemical and photophysical properties. Inorganic Chemistry, 60, 11852-11865. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c01435
Journal - Research Article
Steel, T. R., Tong, K. K. H., Söhnel, T., Jamieson, S. M. F., Wright, L. J., Crowley, J. D., … Hartinger, C. G. (2021). Homodinuclear organometallics of ditopic N,N-chelates: Synthesis, reactivity and in vitro anticancer activity. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 518, 120220. doi: 10.1016/j.ica.2020.120220
Journal - Research Article
Sutton, J. J., Preston, D., Traber, P., Steinmetzer, J., Wu, X., Kayal, S., … Crowley, J. D., … Gordon, K. C. (2021). Excited-state switching in Rhenium(I) bipyridyl complexes with donor–donor and donor–acceptor substituents. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 143, 9082-9093. doi: 10.1021/jacs.1c02755
Journal - Research Article
Crlikova, H., Malina, J., Novohradsky, V., Kostrhunova, H., Vasdev, R. A. S., Crowley, J. D., … Brabec, V. (2020). Antiproliferative activity and associated DNA interactions of [Co2L3]6+ cylinders derived from bis(bidentate) 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole ligands. Organometallics, 39, 1448-1455. doi: 10.1021/acs.organomet.0c00146
Journal - Research Article
Lagesse, N. R., Tan, K. Y. L., Crowley, J. D., & Findlay, J. A. (2020). Planar 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole derived metallo-ligands: Self-assembly with PdCl2 and photocatalysis. Chemistry: An Asian Journal, 15, 1567-1573. doi: 10.1002/asia.202000284
Journal - Research Article
Lisboa, L. S., Findlay, J. A., Wright, L. J., Hartinger, C. G., & Crowley, J. D. (2020). A reduced-symmetry heterobimetallic [PdPtL4]4+ cage: Assembly, guest binding, and stimulus-induced switching. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 59, 11101-11107. doi: 10.1002/anie.202003220
Journal - Research Article
McNeill, S., Giles, N. M., Preston, D., Jones, P. P., Crowley, J. D., & Giles, G. I. (2020). The quadruply stranded metallo-supramolecular helicate [Pd2 (hextrz)4]4+ acts as a molecular mimic of cytolytic peptides. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 33, 1822-1834. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00061
Journal - Research Article
Shillito, G. E., Preston, D., Traber, P., Steinmetzer, J., McAdam, C. J., Crowley, J. D., … Gordon, K. C. (2020). Excited-state switching frustrates the tuning of properties in triphenylamine-donor-ligand rhenium(I) and platinum(II) complexes. Inorganic Chemistry, 59, 6736-6746. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b03691
Journal - Research Article
Barnsley, J. E., Findlay, J. A., Shillito, G. E., Pelet, W. S., Scottwell, S. Ø., McIntyre, S. M., Tay, E. J., Gordon, K. C., & Crowley, J. D. (2019). Long-lived MLCT states for Ru(II) complexes of ferrocene-appended 2,2'-bipyridines. Dalton Transactions, 48, 15713-15722. doi: 10.1039/c9dt02025j
Journal - Research Article
Mapley, J. I., Ross, D. A. W., McAdam, C. J., Gordon, K. C., & Crowley, J. D. (2019). Triphenylamine-substituted 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole copper(I) complexes: An experimental and computational investigation. Journal of Coordination Chemistry, 72(8), 1378-1394. doi: 10.1080/00958972.2019.1593388
Journal - Research Article
Preston, D., Findlay, J. A., & Crowley, J. D. (2019). Recognition properties and self-assembly of planar [M(2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole)2]2+ metallo-ligands. Chemistry: An Asian Journal, 14, 1136-1142. doi: 10.1002/asia.201801132
Journal - Research Article
Preston, D., Inglis, A. R., Crowley, J. D., & Kruger, P. E. (2019). Self-assembly and cycling of a three-state PdxLy metallosupramolecular system. Chemistry: An Asian Journal, 14, 3404-3408. doi: 10.1002/asia.201901238
Journal - Research Article
van Hilst, Q. V. C., Vasdev, R. A. S., Preston, D., Findlay, J. A., Scottwell, S. Ø., Giles, G. I., Brooks, H. J. L., & Crowley, J. D. (2019). Synthesis, characterisation and antimicrobial studies of some 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine ruthenium(II) “click” complexes. Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry, 8, 496-505. doi: 10.1002/ajoc.201900088
Journal - Research Article
Findlay, J. A., Barnsley, J. E., Gordon, K. C., & Crowley, J. D. (2018). Synthesis and light-induced actuation of photo-labile 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole Ru(bis-bipyridyl) appended rerrocene rotors. Molecules, 23(8), 2037. doi: 10.3390/molecules23082037
Journal - Research Article
Findlay, J. A., McAdam, C. J., Sutton, J. J., Preston, D., Gordon, K. C., & Crowley, J. D. (2018). Metallosupramolecular architectures formed with ferrocene-linked bis-bidentate ligands: Synthesis, structures, and electrochemical studies. Inorganic Chemistry, 57(7), 3602-3614. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.7b02503
Journal - Research Article
Preston, D., Gordon, K. C., Sutton, J. J., & Crowley, J. D. (2018). A nona-nuclear heterometallic Pd3Pt6 "Donut" shaped cage: Molecular recognition and photocatalysis. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 57(28), 8659-8663. doi: 10.1002/anie.201804745
Journal - Research Article
Shillito, G. E., Hall, T. B. J., Preston, D., Traber, P., Wu, L., Reynolds, K. E. A., … Lucas, N. T., Crowley, J. D., … Gordon, K. C. (2018). Dramatic alteration of 3ILCT lifetimes using ancillary ligands in [Re(L)(CO)3(phen-TPA)]n+ complexes: An integrated spectroscopic and theoretical study. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 140(13), 4534-4542. doi: 10.1021/jacs.7b12868
Journal - Research Article
van Hilst, Q. V. C., Lagesse, N. R., Preston, D., & Crowley, J. D. (2018). Functional metal complexes from CuAAC "click" bidentate and tridentate pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole ligands. Dalton Transactions, 4, 997-1002. doi: 10.1039/c7dt04570k
Journal - Research Article
Vasdev, R. A. S., Gaudin, L. F., Preston, D., Jogy, J. P., Giles, G. I., & Crowley, J. D. (2018). Anticancer activity and cisplatin binding ability of bis-quinoline and bis-isoquinoline derived Pd2L44+ metallosupramolecular cages. Frontiers in Chemistry, 6, 563. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00563
Journal - Research Article
Kim, T. Y., Digal, L., Gardiner, M. G., Lucas, N. T., & Crowley, J. D. (2017). Octahedral [Pd6L8]12+ metallosupramolecular cages: Synthesis, structures and guest-encapsulation studies. Chemistry: A European Journal, 23, 15089-15097. doi: 10.1002/chem.201702518
Journal - Research Article
Preston, D., Lewis, J. E. M., & Crowley, J. D. (2017). Multicavity [PdnL4]2n+ cages with controlled segregated binding of different guests. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 139(6), 2379-2386. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b11982
Journal - Research Article
Preston, D., White, K. F., Lewis, J. E. M., Vasdev, R. A. S., Abrahams, B. F., & Crowley, J. D. (2017). Solid state gas adsorption studies with discrete palladium(II) [Pd2(L)4]4+ cages. Chemistry: A European Journal, 23(44), 10559-10567. doi: 10.1002/chem.201701477
Journal - Research Article
Ross, D. A. W., Preston, D., & Crowley, J. D. (2017). Self-Assembly with 2,6-Bis(1-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine: Silver(I) and Iron(II) Complexes. Molecules, 22(10), 1762. doi: 10.3390/molecules22101762
Journal - Research Article
Scottwell, S. Ø., Barnsley, J. E., McAdam, C. J., Gordon, K. C., & Crowley, J. D. (2017). A ferrocene based switchable molecular folding ruler. Chemical Communications, 53, 7628-7631. doi: 10.1039/C7CC03358C
Journal - Research Article
Vasdev, R. A. S., Preston, D., & Crowley, J. D. (2017). Functional metallosupramolecular architectures using 1,2,3-triazole ligands: It's as easy as 1,2,3 "click". Dalton Transactions, 46(8), 2402-2414. doi: 10.1039/c6dt04702e
Journal - Research Article
Vasdev, R. A. S., Preston, D., & Crowley, J. D. (2017). Multicavity metallosupramolecular architectures. Chemistry: An Asian Journal, 12(19), 2513-2523. doi: 10.1002/asia.201700948
Journal - Research Article
Barnsley, J. E., Scottwell, S. Ø., Elliott, A. B. S., Gordon, K. C., & Crowley, J. D. (2016). Structural, electronic, and computational studies of heteroleptic Cu(I) complexes of 6,6′-dimesityl-2,2′-bipyridine with ferrocene-appended ethynyl-2,2′-bipyridine ligands. Inorganic Chemistry, 55(16), 8184-8192. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b01300
Journal - Research Article
Elliott, A. B. S., Lewis, J. E. M., van der Salm, H., McAdam, C. J., Crowley, J. D., & Gordon, K. C. (2016). Luminescent cages: Pendant emissive units on [Pd2L4]4+ "click" cages. Inorganic Chemistry, 55(7), 3440-3447. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b02843
Journal - Research Article
Huff, G. S., Lo, W. K. C., Horvath, R., Turner, J. O., Sun, X.-Z., Weal, G. R., Davidson, H. J., Kennedy, A. D. W., McAdam, C. J., Crowley, J. D., … Gordon, K. C. (2016). Excited states of triphenylamine-substituted 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole complexes. Inorganic Chemistry, 55(23), 12238-12253. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b01959
Journal - Research Article
Kumar, S. V., Scottwell, S. Ø., Waugh, E., McAdam, C. J., Hanton, L. R., Brooks, H. J. L., & Crowley, J. D. (2016). Antimicrobial properties of tris(homoleptic) ruthenium(II) 2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole "click" complexes against pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Inorganic Chemistry, 55(19), 9767-9777. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b01574
Journal - Research Article
Lo, W. K. C., Castillo, C. E., Gueret, R., Fortage, J., Rebarz, M., Sliwa, M., … McAdam, C. J., … McMorran, D. A., Crowley, J. D., … Blackman, A. G. (2016). Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic H2-evolving activity of a family of [Co(N4Py)(X)]n+ complexes in aqueous solution. Inorganic Chemistry, 55, 4564-4581. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b00391
Journal - Research Article
McKay, A. P., Lo, W. K. C., Preston, D., Giles, G. I., Crowley, J. D., Barnsley, J. E., Gordon, K. C., & McMorran, D. A. (2016). Palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of ((2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)benzoic acids: Synthesis, solid state characterisation and biological cytotoxicity. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 446, 41-53. doi: 10.1016/j.ica.2016.02.038
Journal - Research Article
Pages, B. J., Sakoff, J., Gilbert, J., Zhang, Y., Li, F., Preston, D., Crowley, J. D., & Aldrich-Wright, J. R. (2016). Investigating the cytotoxicity of platinum(II) complexes incorporating bidentate pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole “click” ligands. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 165, 92-99. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.06.017
Journal - Research Article
Preston, D., Barnsley, J. E., Gordon, K. C., & Crowley, J. D. (2016). Controlled formation of heteroleptic [Pd2(La)2(Lb)2]4+ cages. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 138(33), 10578-10585. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b05629
Journal - Research Article
Preston, D., McNeill, S. M., Lewis, J. E. M., Giles, G. I., & Crowley, J. D. (2016). Enhanced kinetic stability of [Pd2L4] 4+ cages through ligand substitution. Dalton Transactions, 45, 8050-8060. doi: 10.1039/c6dt00133e
Journal - Research Article
Preston, D., Tucker, R. A. J., Garden, A. L., & Crowley, J. D. (2016). Heterometallic [MnPtn(L)2n]x+ macrocycles from dichloromethane-derived bis-2-pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole ligands. Inorganic Chemistry, 55(17), 8928-8934. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b01435
Journal - Research Article
Scottwell, S. Ø., & Crowley, J. D. (2016). Ferrocene-containing non-interlocked molecular machines. Chemical Communications, 52, 2451-2464. doi: 10.1039/c5cc09569g
Journal - Research Article
Vasdev, R. A. S., Preston, D., Scottwell, S. Ø., Brooks, H. J. L., Crowley, J. D., & Schramm, M. P. (2016). Oxidatively locked [Co2L3]6+ cylinders derived from bis(bidentate) 2-Pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole "Click" ligands: Synthesis, stability, and antimicrobial studies. Molecules, 21(11), 1548. doi: 10.3390/molecules21111548
Journal - Research Article
Wright, J. R., Crowley, J. D., & Lucas, N. T. (2016). Carbon-rich "click" 1,2,3-triazoles: Hexaphenylbenzene and hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene-based ligands for Suzuki-Miyaura catalysts. Chemical Communications, 52(88), 12976-12979. doi: 10.1039/c6cc07413h
Journal - Research Article