This project supports an NMR spectrometer dedicated to the instructional needs of undergraduate students within the Department of Chemistry. This instrumentation enables students to have "hands on" practical experience in NMR spectroscopy in a variety of courses throughout the chemistry curriculum. The curriculum revisions include a new Honors course in Organic Chemistry (with a concomitant laboratory), an Advanced Organic Laboratory Course, and an increased emphasis on teaching spectroscopy throughout the chemistry major's program. Spectroscopy is also an essential component of the undergraduate research experience. NMR now joins infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography as a vital component of the organic laboratory beginning in the first semester of organic laboratory. Students gain first-hand experience with a powerful tool for structural determination through a new sequence of experiments. The NMR spectrometer provides advanced students the full range of experience with both 1- and 2-D pulse sequences but is also simple enough to introduce students to this technique in the first semester of organic chemistry laboratory.
