Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the most powerful tool available to the chemist for the elucidation of the structure of molecules. It is used to identify unknown substances, 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 spectrometry is essential to chemists who are carrying out frontier research. This award from the Chemistry Shared Instrumentation Program will help the Department of Chemistry at the University of California at San Diego to acquire a high-field NMR spectrometer. The areas of chemical research that will be enhanced by the acquisition include: 1) Molecular mechanisms of biological oxygen transport and utilization 2) Dynamics of metalloenzyme reactions 3) Synthesis of biologically active compounds 4) Proton transfer reactions in chemical and biological systems 5) Catalytic hydrolysis of phosphate diesters and oligonucleotides 6) Chemical defense in marine organisms 7) Natural products chemistry of marine molluscs.
