Acquisition of a Cyber-accessible 400 MHz NMR at the University of Southern Mississippi

University Of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg MS

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities: Multiuser program (CRIF:MU), the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Southern Mississippi University will acquire a cyber enabled 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer. It will be employed in a wide variety of research projects, supporting structural, reaction, and analytical studies such as 1) synthesis and characterization of vanadium(V) complexes; 2) development of new olefin metathesis catalyst applications in aqueous media, enhanced reaction control and asymmetric reactions; 3) synthetic routes for unnatural amino acids; 4) characterization of metallic nitride fullerenes; 5) development of host-guest systems as molecular sensors; and 6) experimental verification of quantum chemical shift prediction methods. Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy is the most used analytical tool in any molecular-synthetic discipline in chemistry. The spectra enable researchers to identify unknown substances and to provide information on the arrangement and connectivity of atoms in molecules and materials, i.e., their structures by detecting transitions between energy levels arising from the nuclear spin properties of atoms. This spectrometer will enhance many Southern Mississippi programs that promote teaching and learning of undergraduates and graduate students. The instrument will also be used by three community colleges in Mississippi and the University's Gulf Coast campus in Long Beach. Remote access and operation (cyber-enabling) will be a feature of the instrument to enhance usage and productivity.