Acquisition of a Cyber-Capable Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer for Extensive Use in Education and Research at Graduate, Undergraduate and High School Levels

University Of Arizona, Tucson AZ

Investigators

Abstract

With this award from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities: Multi User program (CRIF:MU), the Department of Chemistry at the University of Arizona will acquire a cyber-capable single-crystal X-ray diffractometer. This diffractometer will be used in the study of lanthanide and transition metal clusters, biologically relevant sulfur radical cation chemistry and coupling redox processes related to catalysts for hydrogen production, amino acid, peptide, and peptidomimetic chemistry and biology, structural models for molybdenum enzymes, model hemes, and organic crystal engineering using piperazinedione-based molecular scaffolds. The technique of single-crystal X-ray crystallography allows accurate and precise determination of the full three dimensional structure of a molecule, including bond distances and angles, and it provides accurate information about the spatial arrangement of molecules relative to the neighboring molecules. These studies will have an impact in a number of areas ranging from synthetic chemistry to systems of biological interest and cleaning of the environment.