Acquisition of a 300 MHz NMR Spectrometer to Support Research and Education in the Chemistry Curriculum

College Of The Holy Cross, Worcester MA

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at the Holy Cross College will acquire a 300 MHz NMR Spectrometer. This equipment will enable researchers to carry out studies on a) conformational studies of cyclohexane derivatives, tertiary amides and Gramacidin S; b) application of isotopic perturbation to halonium ions; c) measurement of carbon-13 - carbon-13 coupling constants in delocalized carbocations; d) incorporation of amino acids into organometallic compounds; e) synthesis of new therapeutic agents; f) use of covalently constrained dipeptides to affect protein folding; g) development of beta- and gamma-turn mimetics; h) natural product synthesis; i) synthetic organic methods development; and j) hydrogen/deuterium exchange kinetics. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the most powerful tool available to chemists for the elucidation of the structure of molecules. It is used to identify unknown substances, to characterize specific arrangements of atoms within molecules, and to study the dynamics of interactions between molecules in solution. Access to state-of-the-art NMR spectrometry is essential to chemists who are carrying out frontier research. The results from these NMR studies will have an impact in a number of areas including drug development and biochemistry.