Through this grant, the university is purchasing a 300-MHz NMR spectrometer for laboratory curriculum development the undergraduate program. Following recent converqion to microscale, new experiments, which require the sensitivity and resolution of this high-field Fourier transform instrument, are being introduced into the sophomore organic chemistry laboratories. In physical chemistry, experiments involving relaxation times, NOESY techniques, kinetics, and equilibrium studies are being introduced. The advanced chemistry laboratory involves both organic and inorganic projects. The organic projects incorporate F-19 NMR spectroscopy, as well as advanced NMR techniques such as COSY, APT, HETCOR, and INADEQUATE spectroscopy for the assignment of 1H and 13C spectra. The inorganic projects utilize 1H and 13C spectroscopy for equilibrium studies and for structure determination of inorganic complexes. In the NMR laboratory, a wide range of NMR topics are covered, including NOE difference; INEPT, DEPT, and HETCORR spectroscopy; decoupling experiments; and 31P and 77Se NMR. The projects range from natural product structure elucidation to the synthesis and NMR analysis of inorganic compounds. This instrument is also used extensively in the undergraduate research program.
