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Education
1993 Ph.D. in Coordination Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Project: Electronic exchange processes in Mo(I) dipyridyl polyene complexes Supervisors: Prof. Jon McCleverty and Dr. Chris J. Jones.
1983 Post Graduate Certificate in Education, Worcester College of Higher Education.
1982 BSc(hons) in Chemistry, University of Reading.
Employment
in
University
of
Sheffield
2011-present
Reader in
Coordination Chemistry
2004 - 2006
Lecturer
1995 - 2004 Royal Society University Research Fellow
1994 - 1995 Postdoctoral Research Associate University of Sheffield
Project:
Synthesis of
water-soluble organic
macrocyclic hosts for redox active organic molecules
Advisor:
Prof. Chris Hunter
1993 - 1994 Royal Society European Exchange Fellow Institute Lebel, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France Project: Stereoisomerically controlled architectures: synthesis of enantio- and diastereomerically pure Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes Advisor: Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn (1987 Nobel Chemistry Laureate).
1983 - 1990 Secondary School teacher of Physical Science in the UK and Africa.
Research Interests
Inorganic and organic
molecules as DNA binding agents. A generalized synthesis of novel,
coordinatively unsaturated Ru(II) and Re(I) metallo-intercalators for
DNA has been developed and these systems have been employed as building
blocks for higher order, oligomeric structures. This work has been
extended to produce water-soluble organic derivatives of the
intercalative ligands used in the inorganic studies. This work has led
to in vitro and in cellulo probes with distinctive
binding selectivity (for both sequence and
structure) and multi-functional photo-redox properties. Several
cytotoxic leads for possible future therapeutics have been developed. Self-assembly of kinetically locked Ru(II)-based metallo-macrocycles. Using suitable metal complexes as templates, a variety of metallo-macrocyclic architectures, all incorporating Ru(II) metal centres have been synthesised. These structures possess novel photophysical and electronic properties that mean they can function as sensors or electron transfer switches. Ruthenium thiacrown complexes. Mono– and Oligonuclear Ru(II) complexes of thiacrown ligands have been synthesised and studied using a variety of physical and computational techniques. In particular, the electron transfer properties of mixed valence systems based on these complexes have been studied and compared to those of more conventional Ru(II)/Ru(III) systems such as the Creutz-Taube ion.
Professional Activity.
National Research Refereeing: Member of EPSRC Peer Review College (2000—present), referee for BBSRC International Refereeing: The Research Corporation and The Petroleum Fund (USA). French, Dutch, Swiss, Swedish, Norwegian, and Hong Kong research agencies and universities. Referee for ACS journals (including; J. Am. Chem. Soc, Inorg. Chem., Biochemistry), Nature Chemistry, Chem. Eur. J., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., RSC journals (including; Chem. Commun., Dalton Trans. NJC, etc), J. Inorg. Biochem., and Inorg. Chim. Acta. Member of The Royal Society Science in Society Committee (2000 – 2004) Member of The Royal Society Partnerships in Science Committee (2004 - 2009) External Ph.D. examiner in the UK, Australia, and India.
Presentations
Apart from a large number of poster presentations and university research seminars, in the UK and elsewhere, invited talks have been presented at national and international conferences including; the UK Coordination, Electrochemistry, Photochemistry and Supramolecular Chemistry Meetings, The Royal Society of Chemistry National Conference, Dalton Discussion Meeting, The International Coordination Chemistry Congress, UK-China Young Scientists Symposium, Trinity College Dublin Annual Supramolecular Chemistry Meeting, The Asian Bio-Inorganic Chemistry Congress, The IUPAC International Symposium on Bio-organic Chemistry, PacifiChem, and The IUPAC World Chemistry Congress.
Awards
1995 Royal Society University Research Fellowship
1993 Royal Society European Exchange Fellowship
Publications
73.
"Tuning the Excited State of Photoactive Building Blocks
for Metal-Templated
Self-Assembly" Haslina Ahmad,
Anthony Meijer, Jim A. Thomas, Chem.
Asia J.,
in press 71.
“Ruthenium(II)
metallo-intercalators: DNA imaging
and cytotoxicity” Martin
R. Gill,
Hanan
Derrat, Carl G. W. Smythe, , Giuseppe
Battaglia, and Jim A.
Thomas, ChemBioChem, in
press. 66.
“Structural
analysis
of
the
binding
of the diquaternary pyridophenazine
derivative dqdppn to B-DNA oligonucleotides” Phil Waywell, Jim A
Thomas, Mike P Williamson, Org. Biochem. Chem., 2010, 8, 648-654. 65.
“Structure
of
the
complex
of
[Ru(tpm)(dppz)py]2+ with
a
B-DNA oligonucleotide - a
single-substituent binding switch for a metallo-intercalator.” Phil
Waywell, Veronica Gonzalez, Martin R. Gill, Harry Adams, Anthony J. H.
M. Meijer, Mike P Williamson, Jim A. Thomas, Chem. Eur. J., 2010, 16,
2407-2417
(selected for inside cover). 64. “Co-crystallising Two Functional Complex Molecules in a Terpyridine Embrace Lattice” Clare A. Tovee, Colin A. Kilner, Jim A. Thomas and Malcolm. A. Halcrow, Jim A Thomas, Crys. Eng. Commun., 2009, 11, 2069-2077. 63.
“DNA
binding
and
cleavage
properties of a newly synthesized
Ru(II)-polypyridyl complex” With Amrita Ghosh, Amit Mandoli, D.
Krishna. Kumar, Narendra S. Yadav, Tamal Ghosh, Bhavanath Jha, Jim A
Thomas, Amitava Das, Dalton Trans, 2009, 9312-9321 62.
“A
Ruthenium(II)
Polypyridyl
Complex
for Direct Imaging of DNA
Structure in Living Cells.” Martin R. Gill, Jorge Garcia-Lara,
Simon J. Foster, Carl Smythe, Guiseppe Battaglia, Jim A. Thomas, Nature Chem., 1, 662-667 61. “Photophysical properties and singlet oxygen production by Ruthenium(II) Complexes of Benzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2’,3’-c]phenazine: a spectroscopic and TD DFT study,” Simon P. Foxon, Mike Walker, Mohammed A. H. Alamiry, Anthony J. H. M. Meijer, Igor V. Sazanovich, Julia A. Weinstein, Jim A. Thomas, J. Phys, Chem. A., 2009, 113, 12754-12762 60. “Kinetically locked luminescent metallomacrocycles as duplex DNA binding substrates,” Dipesh Ghosh, Haslina Ahmad, Jim A Thomas, Chem Commun., 2009, 2947–2949. 59 “A hydrophobic haven for Base Pairs,” Jim A Thomas, Nature Chemistry, 2009, 1, 25—26. 58. “Mixed Valence Creutz-Taube ion Analogues Incorporating Thiacrowns: Synthesis, Structure, Physical Properties, and Computational Studies,” Harry Adams, Paulo J. Costa, Mike Newell, Steven J. Vickers, Michael D. Ward, Vítor Félix, Jim A. Thomas, Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47, 11633 - 11643. 57. “Self-assembly of Electroactive Thiacrown Ruthenium(II) Complexes into Hydrogen-bonded Chain and Tape Networks,” Naz Shan, Samuel M. Hawxwell, Harry Adams, Lee Brammer, Jim A. Thomas, Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47, 11551 - 11560. 56. “Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of tricyanomethanide-containing bis(2-pyrimidylcarbonyl)amidate copper(II) complexes,” Consuelo Yuste, Danielle Cangussu de Castro Gomes, Harry Adams, Jim A Thomas, Francesc Lloret, and Miguel Julve, Polyhedron, 2008, 27, 2577-2584. 55. “A dinuclear ruthenium(II) complex that functions as a label-free colorimetric sensor for DNA,” V. Gonzalez, T. Wilson, I. Kurihara, A. Imai, J. A. Thomas, J. Otsuki, Chem Commun., 2008, 168 – 170. 54. “Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of mono- and polynuclear bis(2-arylcarbonyl)amidatecopper(II) complexes,” D. C. de Castro Gomes, L. M. Toma, H. O. Stumpf, H. Adams, F. Lloret, J. A. Thomas, M. Julve, Polyhedron, 2008, 27,559 – 573. 53. “Nanosecond Transient Absorption Studies of Ru(II) complexes with Tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane Unit and an intercalating benzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppn) ligand,” M. A. H. Alamiry, S. Foxon, J. A. Thomas, J. A. Weinstein CLF Annual Report, 2007, 149 - 151. 52. “Zwitterionic 2-(4-Pyridyl)malondialdehyde Sesquihydrate Forms a Helical, Three-Dimensional Hydrogen-Bonded Lattice,” C. A. Tovee, C. A. Kilner, J. A. Thomas, M. Halcrow, CrystEngComm., 2007, 9, 361-63. 51. “A Multifuctional Light-Switch: DNA Binding and Cleavage Properties of a Heterobimetallic Ruthenium-Rhenium Dipyridophenazine Complex,” S. P. Foxon, M. Towrie, A. W. Parker, M. Webb, J. A Thomas, Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed., 2007, 46, 3686-3688. 50. “Locking self-assembly: strategies and outcomes,” J. A. Thomas, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2007, 36, 856-868. 49. “Tuning Electrochemical and Photophysical Properties of DNA Metallo-intercalators Containing the Ruthenium(II) tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane Unit,” S. P. Foxon, C. Metcalfe, H. Adams, M. Webb, J. A. Thomas, Inorg. Chem., 2007, 46, 409 - 416. 48. “Photophysical studies on novel DNA light switches," S. P. Foxon, J. A. Thomas, CLF Annual Report, 2006, 162-64 47. “Functional Molecular Materials,” J. A. Thomas, Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed., 2006, 45, 4396 - 4398. 46. “Studies on the Interaction of Extended Terpyridyl and Triazine Metal Complexes with DNA,” C. Metcalfe, C. Rajput, J. A. Thomas, J. Inorg. Biochem., 2006, 100, 1314 -1319 . 45. “Dinuclear RuII complexes that display high affinity binding to duplex and quadruplex DNA,” C. Rajput, L. Swanson, R. Rutkaite, I. Haq, J. A. Thomas, Chem. Eur. J., 2006, 12, 4611 - 4619. 44. “Kinetically locked, trinuclear RuII metallo-macrocycles – synthesis and electrochemical properties,” N. Shan, S. Vickers, H. Adams, M. D. Ward, J. A. Thomas, Dalton Trans., 2006, 2900 - 2906. 43. “Structure and Properties of Dinuclear [RuII([n]aneS4) Complexes of 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5- tetrazine,” M. Newell, J. D. Ingram, T. L. Easun, S. J. Vickers, M. D. Ward, J. A. Thomas, Inorg. Chem., 2006, 45, 821 - 827. 42. "Self-assembled kinetically locked RuII-based metallomacrocyles: physical, structural, and modeling studies." P. de Wolf, P. Waywell, M. Hanson, S. L Heath, A. J. H. M. Meijer, S. J Teat, J. A. Thomas, Chem. Eur. J., 2006, 12, 2188 - 2195.(selected on cover) 41. “Ruthenium(II) thiacrown complexes as hydrogen-transfer reduction catalysts,” N. Shan, H. Adams, J. A. Thomas, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2006, 359, 759 - 765. 40. “Electrochemical properties of dinuclear [Ru([n]-ane-S4] complexes of 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine,” M. Newell, J. A. Thomas, Dalton Trans, 2006, 705 - 709. 39. “Tuning DNA binding affinities and photoredox properties of water-soluble organic dppz analogues,” T. Phillips, C. Rajput, L. Twyman, I. Haq, Chem Commun, 2005, 4327-29. 38. “Design of single cyanide-bridged tetranuclear bimetallic rectangles exhibiting ferromagnetic coupling,” L. M. Toma, R. Lescouëzec, D. Cangussu, R. Llusar, J. Mata, S. Spey, J. A. Thomas, F. Lloret, M. Julve, Inorg. Chem. Commun., 2005, 8, 382 - 385. 37. “Oxalate, squarate and croconate complexes with bis(2-pyrimidylcarbonyl)amidate copper(II): synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties,” D. Cangussu, H. O. Stumpf, H. Adams, J. A. Thomas, F. Lloret, M. Julve, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2005, 358, 2292 - 2302. 36. “Ru(II) Complexes Incorporating Tetrathia-macrocycles: Synthesis and Conformational Analysis,” H. Adams, A. M. Amado, V. Félix, B. E. Mann, J. Antelo-Martinez, M. Newell, P. J. A. Ribeiro-Claro, S. E. Spey, J. A. Thomas, Chem., Eur. J., 2005, 11, 2031 - 2046. (selected for frontispiece as a issue highlight) 35. “Copper(II) assisted hydrolysis of 2,4,6-Tris(2-pyrimidyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tpymt). Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of [Cu(bpcam)(H2O)2]ClO4.3H2O, [Cu(bpcam)(H2O)2] [Cu(bpcam)(H2O)(SO4)].2H2O and [Cu2(bpcam)2(H2O)2(SO4)].H2O [bpcam = bis(2-pyrimidylcarbonyl)amidate)],” D. Cangussu de Castro Gomes, H. O. Stumpf, F. Lloret, M. Julve, V. Gonzalez, Harry Adams, J. A. Thomas, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2005, 358, 1113 - 1124. 34. “A convenient synthetic route to half-sandwich rhodium(III) complexes of the tripodal ligand (tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane,” V. Gonzalez, Harry Adams, J. A. Thomas, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 2005, 110 - 115. 33. “DNA binding of an organic dppz-based intercalator.” T. Phillips, I. Haq, A. J.H.M. Meijer, H. Adams, I. Soutar, L. Swanson, M. J. Sykes, J. A. Thomas, Biochemistry, 2004, 43, 13657 – 65. 32. “Switchable electron transfer processes in a mixed valence, kinetically locked, trinuclear RuII metallo-macrocycle,” N. Shan, S. Vickers, H. Adams, M. D. Ward., J. A. Thomas, Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed., 2004, 43, 3398-41. 31. “Hydrogen bonding thiacrown complexes-the structure [RuCl([9]-ane-S3)(L)2][PF6] (where L = nicotinamide),” H. Adams, N. Shan, J. A. Thomas Acta Crystallogr. E., 2004, 60, m662. 30. “Synthesis and structure of rhodium complexes containing extended terpyridyl ligands,” J. Paul, S. Spey, H. Adams, J. Thomas, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2004, 354, 2827-2832. 29. “A facile route to bimetallic ruthenium dipyridophenazine complexes,” C. Metcalfe, I. Haq, J. A. Thomas, Inorg. Chem., 2004, 43, 317-323. 28. “Self-Assembly: Definition and Kinetic and Thermodynamic Considerations,” J. A. Thomas in Encyclopedia of Supramolecular Chemistry, J. Steed and J. Atwood (Eds) (Marcel Dekker, New York, 2004) 27. “New 2,2’:4,4’’:4’,4’’’-quaterpyridyl transition metal complexes,” P. de Wolf, S. L. Heath, J. A. Thomas, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2003, 355C, 280 – 285. 26. “Kinetically inert transition metal complexes that reversibly bind to DNA,” C. Metcalfe, J. A. Thomas, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2003, 32, 214 – 224. (featured on cover) 25. “A ruthenium dipyridylpyrazine complex that binds preferentially to GC sequences.” C. Metcalfe, H. Adams, I. Haq, J. A. Thomas, Chem. Commun., 2003, 1152 – 1153. 24. “Extended terpyridyl and triazine complexes of d6-metal centres,” C. Metcalfe, S. Spey, H. Adams., J. A. Thomas, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 2002, 4732 - 4739, 23. “Hetero-metallomacrocyclic hosts that bind molecular guests in water,” P. de Wolf, S. Heath, J. Thomas, Chem. Commun., 2002, 2540-2541. 22. “A facile synthetic route to bimetallic ReI complexes containing two dppz DNA intercalating ligands,” C. Metcalfe, M. Webb. J. A. Thomas, Chem. Commun., 2002, 2026-2027. 21. “RuII Electron Transfer Systems Containing S-donor Ligands,” C. S. Araújo, M. G. B. Drew. V. Félix, L. Jack, J. Madureira, M. Newell, S. Roche, T. M. Santos, J. A. Thomas, L. Yellowlees, Inorg. Chem., 2002, 41, 2250. 20. “Building Blocks for Self-Assembly: Half-Sandwich complexes of the [Ru([9]aneS3)]2+ Metal Center,” S. Roche, S. E. Spey, H. Adams, J. A. Thomas, Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2001, 323, 157, 19. “Deprotonation of a ruthenium (II) complex incorporating a bipyrazole ligand leading to optical and electrochemical switching,” H. Jones, M. Newell, C. Metcalfe, S. E. Spey, H. Adams, J. A. Thomas, Inorg. Chem. Commun., 2001, 4, 475. 18. “Blast it,” J. A. Thomas New Scientist, 2000, 167, 2250, 40. 17. “Atomic abacus,”.J. A. Thomas, New Scientist, 2000, 165, 2225, 40. 16 “Controlling Substitution Chemistry in Ruthenium (II) Systems - Synthesis of Heteroleptic Complexes Incorporating the [Ru([9]aneS3)]2+ metal center,” S. Roche, H. Adams, S. E. Spey. Inorg. Chem., 2000, 39, 2385. 15. “Hydrogen-bond recognition of Cyclic Dipeptides in water,” C. Allot, H. Adams, P.L. Bernard Jr, C. Rotger, C.A. Hunter, J. A. Thomas, Chem. Commun., 1998, 2449. 14. “Gripping Chemistry,” J. A. Thomas, New Scientist, 1998, 160, 2163, 36. 13. “Damage Control,” New Scientist, 1998, 157, 2120, 36. 12. “Self-assembly of a Supramolecular Cube,” S. Roche, C. Haslam, H. Adams, S. L. Heath, J. A. Thomas, Chem. Commun., 1998, 1681. 11. “A highly coupled RuIII/RuII system incorporating sulphur donor ligands,” S. Roche, L. J. Yellowlees, Chem. Commun., 1998, 1429. 10. “Characterisation of two different mixed-valence states in a strongly interaction di-molybdenum complex,” A. Wlodarczyk, G. A. Doyle, J.P. Maher, J. A. Thomas, C.J. Jones, J. McCleverty, M. D. Ward, Chem. Commun., 1997, 769. 9. “Stereoisomerically controlled architecture: synthesis of enantio- and diastereomerically pure tris-ruthenium discs from enantiopure building blocks,” K. Wärnmark, O. Heyke, J. A. Thomas, J.-M. Lehn, Chem. Commun., 1996, 2603. 8. “Stereoisomerically controlled architecture: synthesis of enantio- and diastereomerically pure ruthenium-palladium molecular rods from enantiopure building blocks,” K. Wärnmark, J. A. Thomas, O. Heyke, J.-M. Lehn, Chem. Commun., 1996, 701. 7. “Mono- and bimetallic polypyridyl polyene cmplexes containing 17-electron molybdenum mononitrosyl centres,” S. L. McWhinnie, J. A. Thomas, T. A. Hamor, C. J. Jones, J. A. McCleverty, D.Collison, F. E. Mabbs, C. J. Harding, L. J.Yellowlees, M. G. Hutchings, Inorg. Chem., 1996, 35, 760. . 6. “Solvatochromism of mono- and bidimolybdenum coordination complexes dipyridyloctatetraene,” J. A. Thomas, M. G. Hutchings, C. J. Jones, J. A. McCleverty, Inorg. Chem., 1996, 35, 289. 5. “Molecular Wires: An Electrochemical Study of metal-metal interactions through chains of four carbon atoms,” J. A. Thomas, C. J. Jones, J. A. McCleverty, M. G. Hutchings, Polyhedron, 1996, 15, 1409-1414. 4. “The synthesis and investigation of the electrochemical and mesogenic properties of metal organic complexes incorporating stilbazole ligands,” J. A. Thomas, C. J. Jones, J. A. McCleverty, D. W. Bruce, M. G. Hutchings, Polyhedron, 1995, 14, 2499-2504. 3. “Electron exchange in bimetallic polyene bridged complexes,” J. A. Thomas, C. J. Jones, J. A. McCleverty, T. Hamor, C. J. Harding, Mol. Crys. Liq. Cryst., 1993, 234, 103 -108 2. “Structure of Orthorhombic Triphenylphosphine Oxide,” J. A. Thomas, T. A. Hamor, Acta Cryst., 1993, C49, 355. 1. “An EPR, magnetic and Electrochemical study of electron exchange and intermetallic interaction through polyene bridges,” J. A. Thomas, C. J. Jones, J. A. McCleverty, T. A. Hamor, C. J. Harding, M. G. Hutching, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1992, 1796. |
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Jim A Thomas |
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Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S3 7HF Tel: 44 (0)114 222 9325 E-Mail: james.thomas@sheffield.ac.uk |
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Jim A Thomas CV |
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CV |