Funds are provided for the purchase of a single crystal X- ray diffractometer to conduct four interdisciplinary research programs at a predominantly undergraduate institution. Currently, no capability for refining single crystal structures exists at the institution or in the research laboratories of local universities. The proposed equipment provides capabilities to conduct collaboration research with industry and outside research institutions. Specifically, the equipment is to be used in: 1) quantitative analysis of titanium aluminum alloys; 2) determination of bond lengths and valences in alumina and magnetoplumbite-type compounds; 3) examination of organometallic polymers and rigid rod polymers; 4) investigation of ployfluroarylene bridged polymers; 5) exploration of vinyl polymers having highly fluorinated side chains; 6) study of chiral phosphonate transition state analogues as inhibitors of HIV-1 protease; and 7) the determination of the correspondence between changes in the crystal structure of pumpellyite with changes in its composition. These studies have applications in the development of high-performance, high-temperature alloys, better understanding of structure/property relations of the crystal chemistry at the spinel blocks, development of industrially important polymers, and establishing a rational design in the synthesis of analogues of HIV-1 protease. %%% Funds are provided for the purchase of a single crystal X- ray diffractometer to conduct four interdisciplinary research programs at a predominantly undergraduate institution. Currently, no capability for refining single crystal structures exists at the institution or in the research laboratories of local universities. Researchers from Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Geology, and Material Engineering conduct a diverse range of studies that have applications in: 1) the development of high- performance, high-temperature alloys, 2) better understanding of structure/property relations of mate rials, 3) development of industrially important polymers, and 4) establishing a rational design in the synthesis of analogues of HIV-1 protease. The proposed research includes collaboration with industry and outside research institutions.
