With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program, Stefan Debbert and colleagues David Hall, and Ron Peck from Lawrence University and Martin Rudd from the University of Wisconsin - Fox Valley will acquire a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer to support research that includes designing novel molecular scaffolds, developing organometallic-polyamine conjugates, and designing new metal-organic framework materials and dipyrrin-metal complexes. In addition, biochemistry and biology faculty will use the instrument to conduct structure-activity studies of viral peptides and of biosynthetic regulation in Halobacterium salinarium. Researchers at U. Wisconsin - Fox Valley will use the spectrometer to carry out studies of selenium - and tellurium - containing anions. Students at both campuses will have access to the instrumentation in their coursework as well.
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. The results from these NMR studies will have an impact in synthetic organic/inorganic chemistry and biochemistry. This instrument will be an integral part of teaching as well as research.
