This project is designed to meet the needs of new interdisciplinary approaches at the interface of physical, bio-, and inorganic chemistry. The proposed experiments are designed specifically to introduce the techniques and style of modern chemical research as it is applied to molecules of proven biological relevance. For this purpose model systems have been chosen and include porphyrin and metalloporphyrin compounds which have been intensively studied and have rich chemical properties in liganding, catalysis, electron transfer, and oxygen transport. Further, the well documented and rationalized spectroscopic properties of these compounds make them ideal for laboratory instruction. Students will use several techniques including absorption, fluorescence, IR, NMR and ESR spectroscopy to characterize the structure, binding, and redox properties of these molecules. This ILI award from the Chemistry Shared Instrumentation Program will help the Department of Chemistry at New York University to acquire UV/VIS and IR spectrometers, fluorescence spectrometer accessories, and four PC's for data acquisition, digitization and manipulation. Upgrades for a fluorimeter, NMR and ESR instruments are also supported by the award. The instrumentation will be used to enhance undergraduate laboratory instruction and impact on chemistry curriculum development.
