With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Washington and Jefferson College will acquire a400 MHz NMR Spectrometer. This equipment will facilitate the following studies: a) characterization of polymers, specifically by studying the aging phenomena of solicone elastomers; b) design and synthesis of potential metallomesogens; and c) synthesis of new DNA analogs with an amide linkage.
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 spectrometers 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 and biochemistry.
