Purchase of an X-ray Diffractometer Equipped with a CCD-Detector

University Of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania will acquire a X-ray diffractometer with CCD detector for small molecule diffractometry. This equipment will enhance research in a number of areas including the following: a) synthesis and chemical and bioactivity properties of metallatricarbaboranyl and isoelectronic metallaheteroatomboranyl complexes; b) control of radical polymerization of olefins by metalloradical and atom transfer mechanisms; c) transition metal complexes of organosilicon and -germanium compounds: new structures and catalysts; d) conjugated porphyrin-based assemblies for biomimetic energy transduction and catalysis; and e)elucidation of catalyst structure and function. 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, materials chemistry and biotechnology.