With this award from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, the Department of Chemistry at the East Carolina University will acquire a 300 MHz NMR and upgrade a 200 MHz NMR spectrometer. This equipment will enable researchers to carry out studies on a) development of new reagents for the kinetic resolution of chiral alcohols; b) the study of a one-step stereoselective approach to polycyclic ring systems possessing multiple stereogenic centers as a model for biomimetic-like cyclization processes; c) studies of bleomycin-DNA binding; d) synthesis and coordination chemistry of new classes of macrocyclic ligands;and e) investigations of the rotational dynamics of fullerenes. The upgraded instrument will also be used in a number of advanced laboratory courses.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the most powerful tool available to chemists for the elucidation of the structure of molecules. It is used to identify unknown substances, to 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. The results from these NMR studies will have an impact in a number of areas including materials chemistry, catalysis, sensor development and medicine .
