MRI: Acquisition of a 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer - A Vital Instrument to Sustain and Enhance Research and Scholarship at St. Cloud State

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With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) and support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation Program (CRIF), Professor Latha Ramakrishnan from St. Cloud State University and colleagues Tamara Leenay, Mohammad Mahroof-Tahir and Mark Mechelke will acquire a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer. This spectrometer will allow research in a variety of fields such as the study of biologically relevant species. In general, 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 performed by undergraduate students at St. Cloud State University and neighboring institutions such as North Hennepin Community College as well as local and regional industries.The award is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, especially in areas such as (a) investigating fundamental biochemical principles such as the function and mechanism of action of major inhibitory and excitatory neural communication systems in flatworms; (b) studying the mechanism of toxicity of natural producs towards cancer cells; (c) investigating structure-properties, i.e., physical, chemical, and electronic relationships of vanadium complexes to decode their potential anti-diabetic mechanisms; and (d) studying the mechanism of cytotoxicity of cyclic Mannich bases.