MRI/RUI-Acquisition of A High Field NMR for Chemistry Research

Hamilton College, Clinton NY

Investigators

Abstract

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Hamilton College will acquire a 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer. This equipment will enable researchers to carry out research on a) the stereochemistry of bromoallene formation in marine algae; b) investigation of the chemical ecology of asters and the butterflies that use them as host plants; c) isolation and structure of bioactive substances from a sponge; d) a conformational study of synthetic peptides that mimic the minimal active sequence of alpha fetoprotein; e) the development of synthetic methodology and mechanistic studies in free radical chemistry; and f) probing the nature of the nitric oxide oxidation of neurotransmitters. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the most powerful tool available to chemists for the elucidation of the structure of molecules. It is used to identify unknown substances, to characterize specific arrangements of atoms within molecules, and to study the dynamics of interactions between molecules in solution. Access to state-of-the-art NMR spectrometers is essential to chemists who are carrying out frontier research. The results from these NMR studies will have an impact in marine studies, synthetic organic chemistry and biochemistry.