MRI: Acquisition of a CCD X-ray Diffractometer for Chemical Research and Education

Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Vassar College will acquire a single-crystal X-ray diffractometer with CCD detector. This instrument will facilitate research in a number of areas: (1) the investigation of paramagnetic and air-sensitive coordination compounds; (2) the structural investigation of microcrystalline extended structure network materials; (3) examination of twinned derivatives of giant fullerenes; (4) the study of hydrogen bonding structures exhibited by organic anion receptors and synthetic peptide mimics; and (5) the analysis of biologically active small molecule and natural product compounds. 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, especially materials chemistry, biochemistry and medicinal chemistry.