RUI/MRI Acquisition of a 300 MHz NMR Spectrometer for Undergraduate Research in Chemistry

Occidental College, Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Abstract

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Occidental College will acquire a 300 MHz NMR Spectrometer. This equipment will enable researchers to carry out research on a) NMR studies of biomembranes; b) palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions on unsaturated cyanohydrins; c) studies of the redox thermodynamics of the CuA domain of Thermus Thermophilus Cytochrome ba3; and d) studies on quinones. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of 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 a number of areas, including Biochemistry.