This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program Professor Lynn C. Francesconi and colleagues Matthew Devany, Charles M. Drain and Nancy L. Greenbaum from the Department of Chemistry at CUNY Hunter College will acquire a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer. The instrument will be used to support research activities such as: 1) speciation of 99Tc metal oxides and phosphates; 2) porphyrin-based materials; 3) RNA structure-function; 4) polyoxometalates, nanoparticles, materials, sensors and imaging agents; 5) experiments using 13C labeled RNA samples and 31P-99Tc correlation; and 6) studies of speciation of 99Tc and lanthanide metal oxides.
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, materials chemistry and biochemistry. This instrument will be an integral part of teaching as well as research.
The major goal of the project was the acquisition of a state-of-the-art multi-nuclear 400MHz NMR spectrometer for samples in either liquid or solid state for the City University of New York (CUNY)/Hunter College Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Facility. This instrument was acquired and installed and presently plays an essential role in the research and training. Research projects include the chemistry of nuclear waste products aimed at remediation, the development of polymers for nuclear fuel processing and nuclear waste remediation, the synthesis of novel, improved medical imaging agents, the development of phototherapeutic compounds for the treatment of cancers with light, the development of lithium based electrolytes for improved batteries for electronic devices or electric cars, and many other applications. This instrument is also the primary instrument for undergraduate teaching at Hunter College. It plays an essential role in three courses, and an integral role in one advanced course, in addition to several workshops and demonstrations designed to increase the awareness and accessibility to an advanced analytical technique in chemistry. This 400 MHz instrument is also an essential part of the in-depth training in NMR received by advanced researchers, graduate students and post-doctoral scientists, in their day-to-day work on the research projects outlined above. In summary, the funded project resulted in the purchase of a state-of-the-art fully automated instrument with a broad range of capabilities that will serve scientists in cross-disciplinary research resulting in tangible benefits to medical, economic, and environmental health.
