Acquisition of a Small Molecule X-Ray Facility for the Department of Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University will acquire a X-ray diffractometer with CCD detector and low temperature capabilities for small molecule diffractometry. This equipment will enhance research in a number of areas including the following: a) bioinorganic modeling of metalloenzyme active sites; b) environmental inorganic chemistry and the development of copper mediated dehalogenation; c) synthesis, characterization and reactivity of aza-substituted corrole macrocycles; d) new metal-carbonyl diimine compounds of photochemical interest; e) photoinduced electron, energy, and atom transfer processes; and f) X-ray studies of metal-organic complexes for asymmetric catalysis. Faculty members from Morgan State University, Loyola College, Towson University, the University of Maryland in Baltimore County, the US Naval Academy and Gettysburg College will also have access to this equipment. 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 environmental chemistry, preparation of more efficient catalysts, and biochemistry.