MRI: Acquisition of a 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer to Enhance Faculty and Undergraduate Research and Chemical Education at the University of West Georgia

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With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation program (MRI), Megumi Fujita and colleagues Victoria Geisler, Partha Ray, and Spencer Slattery from the University of West Georgia will acquire a 400 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer with an inverse probe, auto-tuning unit, Dewar for low-temperature control, anti-vibration system and sample changer. The requested instrument will allow research in organic/inorganic areas and will also provide enhanced capacity by allowing investigation of paramagnetic samples, a wide range of nuclei, variable temperature operations, and water suppression of aqueous samples. Specific areas of research that will be directly impacted by the instrument include: (i) development of transition metal catalysts for environmentally benign oxidation, (ii) the design of ligand-bridged bi- and tri-metallic molecular switches with tunable metal-metal coupling, (iii) the synthesis of pyrimidodiazipine-based folates as potential anti-tumor agents, and (iv) inhibition of faulty signaling by Protein Kinase C via synthesis of sphingosine analogues. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools 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 synthetic organic/inorganic chemistry, biochemistry and the environment.