Professor Sally Brooker
Transition Metal and Macrocyclic Chemistry
- E-mail:
- sbrooker {at} chemistry.otago.ac.nz
- Fax:
- 64-3-479-7906
- Phone:
- 64-3-479-7919
- Postal address:
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
Interested in doing a PhD or postdoc? then please read on
MacDiarmid PhD scholarship available
Brooker's Bunch 2013
Recent news
New dual source Agilent X-ray diffractometer installed (Jan 2013)
Three of the Brookers Bunch graduate PhD on the same day! (Dec 2012)
Ex BB member Nick White completes his DPhil at Oxford (2012)
Humphrey Feltham's Single Molecule Magnet is featured on the Bragg centenary stamp sheet (2012)
2012 International Symposium on Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry
was held at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Sunday 29 January to Thursday 2 February 2012. See photos
AMN-4: on Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, 8-12 February 2009 Dunedin
Student lecture and poster prize winners: http://macdiarmid.ac.nz/news/stories/prizesAMN4.php
Check out the crystal gazing movie stars from Brookers Bunch on the Hot Science website: http://www.hotscience.co.nz
Research interests
Recent publications
Professional background
Brooker's Bunch - who we are and how to join us
Handy connections
Images of the department's single crystal x-ray diffractometers
Research interests
My research group is currently working in the following areas:
- Symmetrical polynucleating macrocycles - towards soluble stable 3d-4f Single Molecule Magnets
- Heterocycle-containing ligands
- Spin crossover complexes - towards nanoswitches and memory devices (Moessbauer spectroscopy 4-300 K in house, in collaboration with Dr Guy Jameson)
- Attachment of magnetically interesting complexes to nanoparticles (in collaboration with Dr Carla Meledandri)
- Self-assembly of communicating arrays of transition metal ions - grids vs side-by-side complexes
- Thiolate-containing ligands - models for hydrogenases (H2 = 2H+ + 2e-)
- The oxygen evolving complex of green plants (2H2O = O2 + 4H+ + 4e-), in collaboration with Dr J. Eaton-Rye (Biochemistry)
- Lanthanide cages as a new generation of luminescent probes, in collaboration with Drs Jean Fleming (Anatomy and Structural Biology) and Sally McCormick (Biochemistry).
Recent publications
2013 (to date)
- White, N.G. and Brooker, S., Metal acetates form diverse polynuclear complexes with 4-amino-3,5-di(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole (adpt), Supramolecular Chemistry, in press (2013).
- Gobeze, W.A., Milway, V.A., Chilton, N.F., Moubaraki, B., Murray, K.S., Brooker, S., Di- and tetranuclear complexes of bis-tetradentate pyrimidine-based ligands with all-methylene vs mixed methylene/ethylene linked arms, European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, in press (2013). DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201300368
- Bilbeisi, R.A., Zarra, S., Feltham, H.L.C., Jameson, G.N.L., Clegg, J.K., Brooker, S. and Nitschke, J.R., Guest-Binding Influences Spin Crossover in an Fe4L4 Capsule, Chemistry A European Journal, in press (2013). DOI: 10.1002/chem.201300805
- Feltham, H.L.C., Clérac, R. Ungur, L., Chibotaru, L.F., Powell, A.K., Brooker, S., By design: a macrocyclic 3d-4f Single-Molecule Magnet with quantifiable zero-field slow relaxation of magnetization, Inorganic Chemistry, out online (2013). doi.org/10.1021/ic302735j
- Wilson, R.K. and Brooker, S., Complexes of a porphyrin-like N4-donor Schiff-base macrocycle, Dalton Transactions, out online (2013). DOI:10.1039/C3DT33057E
- Bhattacharjee, A., Roy, M., Ksenofontov, V., Kitchen, J.A., Brooker, S. and Gütlich, P., Pressure effect studies on the spin-transition behavior of a dinuclear iron(II) compound, European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 843-849 (2013)
- Olguín, J., and Brooker, S., Spin crossover in discrete polynuclear complexes, pages 77-120, in Spin-Crossover Materials: Properties and Applications, First Edition. Edited by Malcolm A. Halcrow. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd (2013). ISBN numbers: Hardback: 9781119998679; Paperback: n/a; ePDF: 9781118519325; oBook: 9781118519301; epub: 9781118519318; mobi: 9781118519295.
2012
- Brooker, S., White, N.G., Bauzá, A., Deyà, P.M., and Frontera, A., Understanding the Forces that Govern Packing: A DFT and Structural Investigation of Anion-π-Anion and Non-classical C-H···Anion Interactions, Inorganic Chemistry, 51, 10334-10340 (2012). doi.org/10.1021/ic3014688
- Kelso, G.F., Maroz, A., Cochemé, H.M., Logan, A., Prime, T.A., Peskin, A.V., Winterbourn, C.C., James, A.M., Ross, M.F., Brooker, S., Porteous, C.M., Anderson, R.F., Murphy, M.P. and Smith, R.A.J., A mitochondria-targeted macrocyclic Mn(II) superoxide dismutase mimetic, Chemistry and Biology, 19, 1237-1246 (2012). doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2012.08. 005
- Feltham, H.L.C., Clérac, R., Ungur, L., Vieru, V., Chibotaru, L.F., Powell, A. K., Brooker, S., Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of a New Family of Macrocyclic MII3LnIII Complexes: Insights into the Effect of Subtle Chemical Modification on Single Molecule Magnet Behavior, Inorganic Chemistry, 51, 10603-10612 (2012). DOI: 10.1021/ic300819u
- Gobeze, W.A., Milway, V.A., Olguín, J., Jameson, G.N.L. and Brooker, S., Nine diiron(II) complexes of three bis-tetradentate pyrimidine based ligands with NCE (E = S, Se, BH3) coligands, Inorganic Chemistry, 51, 9056-9065 (2012). doi.org/10.1021/ic3012052
- Cowan, M.G., and Brooker, S., Syntheses, structures and properties of structurally characterised complexes of imide-based ligands, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 256, 2944- 2971 (2012). DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2012.06.004
- Gobeze, W.A., Milway, V.A., Moubaraki, B., Murray, K.S., and Brooker, S., Solvent control: Dinuclear versus tetranuclear complexes of a bis-tetradentate pyrimidine-based ligand, Dalton Transactions, 41, 9708-9721 (2012). DOI:10.1039/C2DT12449A
- Miller, R.G., Jameson, G.N.L., Olguín, J., Brooker, S., Synthesis and characterisation of two high spin iron(II) complexes of 3,4-diphenyl-5-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole, Supramolecular Chemistry (special issue for ISMSC-7, refereed as usual), 24, 547-552 (2012). DOI:10.1080/ 10610278.2012.691608
- White, N.G., Kitchen, J.A., Joule, J.A., and Brooker, S., Copper-induced N-N bond cleavage results in an octanuclear expanded-core grid-like complex, Chemical Communications, , 48, 6229-6231 (2012). 10.1039/C2CC32018E
- Olguín, J., Kalisz, M., Clérac, R., and Brooker, S., Di- and tetra-nuclear copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of four bis-tetradentate triazole-based ligands: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties, Inorganic Chemistry, 51, 5058-5069 (2012). DOI: 10.1021/ic202537c. Second most downloaded paper in Inorganic Chemistry in April and the sixth most read paper in this journal April-June 2012. DOI: 10.1021/ic202537c
- Cowan, M.G., Olguín, J., Narayanaswamy, S., Tallon, J.L., and Brooker, S., Reversible switching of a cobalt complex by thermal, pressure and electrochemical stimuli: abrupt, complete, hysteretic spin crossover, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2012, 134, 2892-2894. Publication Date (Web): November 7, 2011 (Communication). DOI: 10.1021/ja208429u, and front cover feature.
- Cowan, M.G and Brooker, S., Nine non-symmetric pyrazine-pyridine imide-based complexes: reversible redox and isolation of [MII/III(pypzca)2]0/+ when M = Co, Fe, Dalton Transactions, 41, 1465-1474 (2012), and front cover feature.
2011
- Feltham, H.L.C., Klöwer, F., Cameron, S.A., Larsen, D.S., Lan, Y., Tropiano, M., Faulkner, S., Powell, A.K. and Brooker, S., A family of 13 mixed-metal zinc(II)-lanthanide(III) complexes of a [3+3] Schiff base macrocycle derived from 1,4-diformyl-2,3-dihydroxybenzene, Dalton Transactions, 40, 11425-11432 (2011). (2011). DOI: 10.1039/C1DT11038A. Ninth most accessed article in this journal in September.
- Sanyal, R., Cameron, S.A., Brooker, S., Synthesis and complexes of an N4 Schiff-base macrocycle derived from 2,2'-iminobisbenzaldehyde, Dalton Transactions (invited paper for special issue on Supramolecular Chemistry, refereed as usual), 40, 12277-12287 (2011). DOI:10.1039/C1DT10730E. Seventh most accessed article in this journal in September.
- Li, R. and Brooker, S., An unexpected mixed-valence cobalt(II)/cobalt(III) complex of a pyrrole-containing tridentate Schiff-base ligand, Journal of Inclusion Phenomena and Macrocyclic Chemistry (special issued for Prof Len Lindoy, refereed as usual), 71, 303-309 (2011). DOI 10.1007/s10847-011-9977-7
- Olguín, J., Jameson, G.N.L. and Brooker, S., Two mononuclear iron(II) complexes of 4-phenylpyrazole-5-carbaldehyde derived ligands are stabilised in different spin states, RSC Advances, 1, 52-57 (2011).
- Feltham, H. L. C., Clérac, R., Powell, A. K. and Brooker, S., A Tetranuclear, Macrocyclic 3d-4f Complex Showing Single-Molecule Magnet Behaviour, Inorganic Chemistry, , 50, 4232-4234 (2011). doi.org/10.1021/ic2003639.
- Cameron, S.A. and Brooker, S., Metal-free and dicopper(II) complexes of Schiff base [2+2] macrocycles derived from 2,2'-iminobisbenzaldehyde: syntheses, structures and electrochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, 50, 3697-3706 (2011). dx.doi.org/10.1021/ic200059n.
- Feltham, H.L.C., Lan, Y., Klöwer, F., Ungur, L., Chibotaru, L.F., Powell, A.K. and Brooker, S., A non-sandwiched macrocyclic mono-lanthanide single molecule magnet: the key role of axiality, Chemistry - A European Journal, 17, 4362-4365 (2011) and cover feature. DOI: 10.1002/chem.201100438 and front cover feature.
- Kitchen, J.A., White, N.G., Jameson, G.N.L., Tallon, J.L. and Brooker, S., Effect of counter anion X on the spin crossover properties of a family of diiron(II) triazole complexes [FeII2(PMAT)2](X)4, Inorganic Chemistry, 50, 4586-4597 (2011). DOI: 10.1021/ic200308k.
- Olguín, J., Jameson, G.N.L., and Brooker, S., Two dinuclear iron(II) complexes K[Fe2(L1)(SCN)4]·2(C3H8O) and [Fe2(L1)(SeCN)3(C5H5N)]·H2O are stabilised in a '[HS-LS]' state by a bis-tetradentate pyrazolate-based ligand, Dalton Transactions, out online 23 March (2011). DOI: 10.1039/c0dt01391a.
- Olguín, J., and Brooker, S., Synthesis of 3- and 5-formyl-4-phenyl-1H-pyrazoles: promising head units for the generation of asymmetric imine ligands and mixed metal polynuclear complexes, New Journal of Chemistry, 35, 1242-1253 (2011). DOI: 10.1039/C0NJ00774A and cover feature.
- Willms, H., Cowan, M.G. and Brooker, S., Heteroleptic N6 coordinated ruthenium(II) complexes as building blocks for the formation of discrete Ru2Ag2 complexes, Chemical Communications, 46, 1063-1065 (2011). DOI: 10.1039/C0CC03969A
- Li, R. and Brooker, S., Copper(II) and palladium(II) complexes of a terdentate pyrrolidine diester ligand, Inorganica Chimica Acta, 365, 246-250 (2011). DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2010.09.032.
- Olguin, J. and Brooker, S., Spin crossover active iron(II) complexes of selected pyrazole-pyridine/pyrazine ligands, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 255, 203-240 (2011). DOI 10.1016/j.ccr.2010.08.002.
2010
- Kitchen, J.A., Milway, V.A., Jameson, G.N.L., Tallon, J.L., Brooker S., When three is better than one: the first trinuclear complexes of N4-substituted-3,5-dipyridyl-1,2,4-triazole ligands, [FeII3(Rdpt)4(NCS)6], Dalton Transactions, 39, 7637-7639 (2010). DOI: 10.1039/c0dt00716a
- Handel, R.W., Willms, H., Jameson, G.B., Berry, K.J., Moubaraki, B., Murray, K.S. and Brooker, S., Factors influencing the structural and magnetic properties of octahedral cobalt(II) and iron(II) complexes of terdentate N3 Schiff base ligands, European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 3317-3327 (2010). DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201000288.
- Kitchen, J.A., White, N.G., Gandolfi, C., Albrecht, M., Jameson, G.N.L., Tallon, J.L., Brooker S., Room temperature spin crossover and Langmuir-Blodgett film formation of an iron(II) triazole complex featuring a long alkyl chain substituent: the tail that wags the dog, Chemical Communications, 46, 6464-6466 (2010). DOI: 10.1039/c0cc01008a
- Kitchen, J.A., Jameson, G.N.L., Tallon, J.L., and Brooker, S., Spin crossover in co-crystallised 2:1 cis:trans [FeII(pldpt)2(NCS)2] occurs only in 1⁄3 of the iron centres, Chemical Communications, 46, 3200-3202 (2010). DOI: 10.1039/B927036A.
- Kitchen, J.A. and Brooker, S., Two dicobalt(III) complexes of triazolate-containing [2+2] Schiff-base macrocycles coordinate thiocyanate ions via the sulphur atom, Dalton Transactions, 39, 3358-3360 (2010), and front cover feature. DOI: 10.1039/B925745D.
- Noble, A., Olguin, J., Clérac, R., and Brooker, S., Doubly pyrazolate-bridged dinuclear complexes of a highly constrained bis-terdentate ligand: observation of a [HS-LS] state for [FeII2(PMAP)2][SbF6]2·2.25(C3H8O) (PMAP = 3,5-bis{[N-(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]methyl}-1H-pyrazolate), Inorganic Chemistry, 49, 4560-4569 (2010). DOI: 10.1021/ic1001013
- Price, J.R., Lan, Y., Moubaraki, B., Murray K.S. and Brooker, S., Doubly pyridazine-bridged dicobalt(II) and dinickel(II) side-by-side complexes of variously substituted conjugated bis-bidentate ligands, Australian Journal of Chemistry (invited contribution to a special Southern Highlands Conference on Heterocyclic Chemistry issue, refereed as usual), 63, 779–784 (2010). DOI:10.1071/CH09614.
- Feltham, H.L.C., Clérac, R. and Brooker, S., Octa- and hendanuclear zinc(II) complexes of an acyclic diimine ligand derived from 1,4-diformyl-2,3-dihydroxybenzene, Polyhedron, 29, 1353-1357 (2010). DOI:10.1016/j.poly.2009.12.027
- Kitchen, J.A., Larsen, D.S. and Brooker, S., Alkylations of N4-(4-pyridyl)-3,5-di(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole: first observation of room-temperature rearrangement of an N4-substituted-triazole to the N1-analogue, Chemistry – An Asian Journal, 5, 910-918 (2010). DOI: 10.1002/asia.200900485
- White, N.G., Feltham, H.L.C., Gandolfi, C., Albrecht, M., and Brooker, S., Towards Langmuir-Blodgett films of magnetically interesting materials: solution equilibria in amphiphilic iron(II) complexes of a triazole-containing ligand, Dalton Transactions, 39, 3751-3758 (2010). DOI: 10.1039/b923923e.
2009
- Feltham, H.L.C., Larsen, D.S., and Brooker, S., A hexanuclear iron(III) complex of an acyclic hexadentate fully conjugated diimine ligand derived from 1,4-diformyl-2,3-dihydroxybenzene, New Journal of Chemistry, 33, 2001-2003 (2009). Subsequently identified as one of the top 10 most accessed papers in NJC in October 2009.
- Feltham, H.L.C., Clérac, R., and Brooker, S., A tetranuclear mixed-valence manganese complex of a diimine ligand derived from 1,4-diformyl-2,3-dihydroxybenzene: synthesis, structure and magnetic properties, Australian Journal of Chemistry (invited contribution to a special Research Front in Supramolecular Magnetic Materials issue), 62, 1119-1123 (2009).
- Brooker, S., and Kitchen, J.A., Nano-magnetic materials: spin crossover compounds vs. single molecule magnets vs. single chain magnets, Dalton Transactions (invited Frontier Article, refereed as usual), 7331-7340 (2009), and front cover feature.
- Li, R., Moubaraki, B., Murray, K.S. and Brooker, S., Monomeric and dimeric copper(II) complexes of a pyrrole-containing tridentate Schiff-base ligand, European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2851-2859 (2009).
- Kitchen, J.A., White, N.G., Boyd, M., Moubaraki, B., Murray, K.S., Boyd, P.D.W., and Brooker, S., Iron(II) tris-[N4-substituted-3,5-di(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole] complexes: structural, magnetic, NMR and density functional theory studies, Inorganic Chemistry, 48, 6670-6679 (2009).
- Feltham, H.L.C., Clérac, R., and Brooker, S., Hexa-, hepta- and dodeca-nuclear nickel(II) complexes of three Schiff-base ligands derived from 1,4-diformyl-2,3-dihydroxybenzene, Dalton Transactions, 2965-2973 (2009).
- White, N.G., Kitchen, J.A. and Brooker, S., A structural investigation of anion-triazole interactions: observation of `π-pockets´ and `π-sandwiches´, European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 1172-1180 (2009).
- Hellyer, R.M., Larsen, D.S. and Brooker, S., Cobalt and silver complexes of terdentate pyrazine-based amide ligands and assembly of monocobalt building blocks via a silver connector, European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 1162-1171 (2009).
- Lan, Y., Novitchi, G., Clérac, R., Tang, J.K., Madhu, N.T., Hewitt, I.J., Anson, C.E., Brooker, S. and Powell, A.K., Di-, tetra- and hexanuclear iron(III), manganese(II/III) and copper(II) complexes of Schiff-base ligands derived from 6-substituted-2-formylphenols, Dalton Transactions, 1721-1727 (2009), and front cover feature.
- Feltham, H.L.C. and Brooker, S., Ligands and polymetallic complexes derived from 1,4-diformyl-2,3-dihydroxybenzene and two close analogues, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 253, 1458-1475 (2009).
2008
- Price, J.R., White, N.G., Perez-Velasco, A., Jameson, G.B., Hunter, C.A. and Brooker, S., Factors influencing tetranuclear [2 x 2] grid vs. dinuclear side-by-side structures for silver(I) complexes of pyridazine-based bis-bidentate ligands, Inorganic Chemistry, 47, 10729-10738 (2008).
- Jordon, D.K., Kitchen, J.A, Hegh, D.Y., Brooker, S. and Tan, E.W., 1-Tetradecylpyridinium bromidemonohydrate, Acta Crystallographica E, o2457 (2008).
- Kitchen, J.A., Noble, A., Brandt, C.D., Moubaraki, B., Murray, K.S. and Brooker, S., High and low spin mononuclear and dinuclear iron(II) complexes of 4-amino and 4-pyrrolyl-3,5-di(2-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazoles, Inorganic Chemistry, 47, 9450-9458 (2008).
- Li, R., Moubaraki, B., Murray, K.S. and Brooker, S., Monomeric, dimeric and 1D chain polymeric copper(II) complexes of a pyrrole-containing tridentate Schiff-base ligand and its 4-brominated analogue, Dalton Transactions, 6014-6022 (2008).
- Kitchen J.A., Brooker S. Spin crossover in iron(II) complexes of 3,5-di(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazoles and 3,5-di(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazolates, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 252, 2072-2092 (2008).
- Bhattacharjee, A.., Ksenofontov, V., Kitchen, J.A., White, N.G., Brooker, S. and Gütlich, P., Effect of pressure and light on the spin transition behaviour of the dinuclear iron(II) compound [FeII2(PMAT)2](BF4)4·DMF, Applied Physics Letters, 92, 174104-1 to 174104-3 (2008).
- Grunert, C.M., Reiman, S., Spiering, H., Kitchen, J.A., Brooker, S. and Gütlich, P., Mixed spin-state [HS-LS] pairs in a dinuclear spin-transition complex: confirmation by variable temperature 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 47, 2997-2999, and front cover feature (2008).
Front covers
- Angewandte Chemie
- European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry
- Chemistry A European Journal
- Chemical Communiucations
- Dalton Transactions
- New Journal of Chemistry
Professional Background
- 1983-6
- BSc(Hons) First class, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- 1987-9
- PhD, with Professor V. McKee, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- 1990-1
- Postdoctoral Fellow, with Professor G.M. Sheldrick, Göttingen Universität, Göttingen, Germany
- 1990
- Offered a 1990-1992 British Ramsay Postdoctoral Fellowship (declined)
- 1991
- Appointed as a Lecturer, University of Otago, New Zealand
- 1994
- Claude McCarthy Fellowship
- 1996
- Sabbatical leave as a Humboldt Fellow, with Professor K. Wieghardt, MPI für Strahlenchemie, Mülheim, Germany
- 1998
- Bilateral Research Activities Programme award
- 1999
- Easterfield Medal (NZIC, RSC)
- 2000
- Sabbatical leave: Visiting Professorship at Queens University Belfast with Professor Jane Nelson; Royal Society of Chemistry Journals Grant at Bristol University with Professor Mike Ward, Dr John Jeffery and Professor Jon McCleverty.
- 2003
- FACS Distinguished Young Chemist Award (Federation of Asian Chemical Societies)
- 2004
- Sabbatical leave: Visiting Professorship at the Centre for Functional Nanostructures, University of Karlsruhe with Professor Annie Powell.
- 2006
- MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Principal Investigator
- 2007
- Sabbatical leave (October): Visiting Professorship at the Centre for Functional Nanostructures, University of Karlsruhe with Professor Annie Powell.
- 2007
- Elected to Fellowship of the Royal Society of New Zealand
- 2008
- Francis Lions Memorial Lecturer, Sydney University Chemical Society
- 2009
- NZIC Maurice Wilkins Centre Prize for excellence in chemical research
- 2010
- Awarded the 2011 Royal Society of Chemistry Australasian Lectureship
- 2011
- Elected to Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
Brooker's Bunch - who we are and how to join us
Who we are:
Meet Brooker's Bunch past and present.
Where we are:
See a little of the City of Dunedin, the University of Otago and surrounds.
How to join us:
A variety of opportunities for PhD and Postdoctoral research are available.
NOTE: International and New Zealand students interested in doing a PhD please read on
