MRI-R2: Acquisition of a 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer at Chicago State University

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This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program Professor LeRoy Jones II and colleagues Elmer J. Gentry, Asare Nkansah, Melany P. Puglisi-Weening and Felix M. Rivas from the Departments of Chemistry and Physics at Chicago State University will acquire a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer with variable temperature capabilities. The instrument will be used to support research activities such as: 1) preparation of chiral transition metal catalysts for olefin metathesis reactions; 2) development of dendrimers and polymers for drug delivery; 3) synthesis of antibacterial peptides; 4) synthetic modification of antimicrobial compounds for altered spectrum and potency; 5) antimicrobial chemical defenses of marine plants and algae; and 6) isolation and characterization of the CNS-active constituents of nutmeg.Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) 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, materials chemistry and biochemistry. This instrument will be an integral part of teaching as well as research.