Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the most powerful tool available to the chemist for the elucidation of the structure of molecules. It is used to identify unknown substances, 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 spectroscopy is essential to chemists who are carrying out frontier research. This award from the Chemistry Shared Instrumentation Program will help the Department of Chemistry of Rice University to acquire a high-field NMR spectrometer. The areas of research that will be enhanced by the acquisition include: 1) Synthesis of small ring alkenes and organometallic chemistry 2) Asymmetric induction in organic synthesis 3) Total synthesis of molecules of biomedical interest 4) Study of the kinetics of the reactions of azoalkanes 5) Total synthesis of complex natural products 6) Biosynthesis of natural products.
