The automated diffractometer is fully incorporated in the curriculum, primarily through undergraduate research. X-ray diffractometry of single crystals allows the complete structural determination of compounds. The structural determination includes atomic connectivity, geometric orientation, stereochemistry, and accurate bond distances and angles. The diffraction studies are supporting investigations which include synthetic and magnetic studies of iron complexes, kinetic and synthetic studies of cobalt (III) complexes, synthetic studies of nickel and vanadium complexes, mechanistic studies of Diels-Alder reactions of 0-quinone monoimides with conjugated dienes, and the synthesis of natural products. The institution is matching the NSF grant with an equal amount of funds.
