Purchase of X-Ray Diffractometer with CCD Area Detector

University Of Southern California, Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Southern California will acquire an X-ray diffractometer with CCD detector for small molecule diffractometry. This equipment will enhance research in a number of areas including the following: a) studies on metal hydride complexes and other metal compounds; b) covalent fluoride, oxofluoride and nonmetal main group chemistry; c) studies of long lived carbocation salts and related studies; d) studies on organic light-emitting diodes; e) ruthenium complexes as polymerization catalysts; and f) synthetic and mechanistic organotransition metal chemistry. The X-ray diffractometer allows accurate and precise measurements of the full three dimensional structure of a molecule, including bond distances and angles, and it provides accurate information about the spatial arrangement of the molecule relative to the neighboring molecules. These studies will have an impact in a number of areas, including the preparation of more efficient catalysts and materials chemistry.