Purchase of a Single Crystal X-Ray Diffractometer

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, Blacksburg VA

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 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) analysis of endohedral fullerenes (Dorn); b) structure-function relationships of natural products exhibiting anticancer activity (Kingston); c) studies on rotaxanes and pseudorotaxanes (Gibson); d) studies on the structure, physical properties and reactivity of perfluoroarylated transition metal cyclopentadienyl complexes (Deck); e) investigations of catalysis using metal complexes of polysulfonated triarylphosphines in aqueous and biphasic solvents (Hanson); and f) studies on charge-transfer molecular magnets (Yee). 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; pharmaceutical chemistry; and biochemistry.