This award from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program will assist the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech University to purchase a 400 MHz liquid phase nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer. This equipment will enhance research in a number of areas such as the following: (1) covalent modification of antigenic peptides by the quinonoid sponge metabolite puupehenone, (2) synthesis and solid solution phase structures of biologically active substance P analogs, (3) synthetic organic hosts for the recognition of ionic guests, (4) catalysts for asymmetric reactions and (5) the synthesis of taxol derivatives. 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, 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 are useful in the areas such as polymers, catalysis, and in biology.
