With support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities: Departmental Multi-User Instrumentation (CRIF:MU) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Eastern Michigan University will acquire a 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Spectrometer. This instrument will permit the initiation of projects not possible currently and will lead to greater interaction of faculty in Chemistry with those in the College of Technology and Biology. Research projects to benefit from the NMR spectrometer include studies on nitrogen-phosphorus flame retardants, natural product synthesis, nitrogen heterocycle synthesis, and organic and heterocycle synthesis. This instrument will help attract research-oriented faculty and improve the learning experience for graduate and undergraduate student researchers. The formal teaching program will be immediately and positively affected in a senior laboratory class on synthesis and a "Spectrometric Organic Structure Determination" graduate class. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools 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.
