Single crystal x-ray crystallography is the most powerful analytical method for structure determination of solids. In synthetic inorganic, organic, bioinorganic and organometallic chemistry, single crystal x-ray diffraction is an invaluable tool for the characterization of molecular structure. Knowledge of molecular composition and structure helps in the development of new reactions of potentially general interest in catalysis or synthesis. This award from the Chemical Instrumentation Program will help the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Utah State University purchase a Four-Circle Automated Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer. The instrument is needed by members of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department for research in the following areas of chemistry: 1. Structure-reactivity studies of transition metal alpha-haloalkyl complexes. 2. Structural characterization of compounds related to metal- assisted organic synthesis; modeling of chiral transition metal catalysts. 3. Structural characterization of new boron and phosphorus compounds. 4. Assessment of relative configurations in organic compounds. 5. Structural characterization of novel metal-(chloro) phosphine complexes. 6. Structures of small peptide antibiotics.
