Purchase of X-Ray Diffractometer

Board Of Regents, Nshe, Obo University Of Nevada, Reno, Reno NV

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nevada in Reno will upgrade an X-ray diffractometer with an area detector for small molecule crystallography. This equipment will enhance research in a number of areas including the following: a) investigations of metal-metal interactions in large cage complexes known as metallocryptands, probing metallophilic interactions between simple trigonally coordinated platinum and palladium phosphine complexes and heavy metal ions; b) development of ligands for aqueous or biphasic organometallic catalysis; c) synthesis and characterization of benzoid nanostructures focused on ribbon and helical structures; d) directed synthesis of short nanotubes and perfluorinated carbon based materials including fullerenes; e) investigations of hydrogen bonding in oligopyrrole species; f) studies in metal promoted syntheses; g) development of catalysts for the addition of nucleophiles to terminal alkynes; h) construction of metal templates for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral phosphiranes and phosphirenes; and i) the investigation of structure-order-property relationships in lyotropic chromonic mesogens. The x -ray diffractometer allows accurate and precise measurements of the full three dimensional structure of a molecule, including bond distances and angles, and the spatial arrangement of the molecule relative to the neighboring molecules. These studies will have an impact in a number of areas, including materials chemistry and the preparation of more efficient catalysts. In addition, graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Nevada in Reno will have a unique and important opportunity to participate in a chemical research technique that many will depend upon in their future jobs.