MRI: Acquisition of a Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction Instrument for the Creation of an X-ray Diffraction Facility at the University of Puerto Rico

在主要研究仪器(MRI)计划、化学研究仪器(CRIF)计划以及刺激竞争研究实验计划(EPSCoR)的这一奖项下，波多黎各大学的Dalice Pineo教授和他的同事VilMali Lopez-Mejias获得了配备铜源的晶体X射线衍射仪。晶体衍射是一种强大的现代工具，可以用来确定从小但相关的分子到聚合物和生物材料(如药品、天然产品和DNA)的固体材料的原子结构。该仪器用于本科生科研项目和研究生毕业论文项目。这些结构信息使研究人员能够了解他们合成、分离和表征的物质的行为和性质。这些信息影响着基础科学的进步和制造纳米材料、药物和许多日常生活中使用的其他物质的技术进步。衍射仪安装在波多黎各大学分子科学研究中心(UPR-MSRC)，建立了一个完整的最先进的X射线衍射设施，支持波多黎各大都市地区多名科学家的研究和教育努力。单晶X射线衍射仪用于固体材料的结构分析。它的目标是加强多个领域的研究，包括：(A)合成和表征用于存储器件、传感器和显像剂的磁性材料，(B)设计表面结晶的应用和机理研究，(C)设计合成聚丙酸酯衍生的天然目标的非羟醛方法，(D)开发作为催化剂和药物宿主的层状无机化合物，(E)分离和结构鉴定海洋天然产物，(F)对连续结晶过程中获得的药物固体形式进行结构表征，(G)合成在存储器件中具有潜在应用的新型过渡金属配合物；和(H)合成和表征作为潜在药理试剂的芳香族杂环化合物。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Chemistry Research Instrumentation (CRIF) Program as well as the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), Professor Dalice Pinero from the University Puerto Rico Rio Piedras and colleague Vilmali Lopez-Mejias have acquired a crystal X-ray diffractometer equipped with a copper source. Crystal diffraction is a powerful modern tool to determine the atomic structure of solid materials from small but relevant molecules to polymers and biological materials such as pharmaceuticals, natural products and DNA. The instrument is used in undergraduate research projects and in thesis projects of graduate students. The structural information enables researchers to understand the behavior and properties of the substances they synthesize, isolate and characterize. This information impacts the advance of basic science and technological progress from manufacturing of nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals and many other substances used in everyday life. The diffractometer is housed at the University of Puerto Rico's Molecular Sciences Research Center (UPR-MSRC), establishing a complete state-of-the-art X-ray diffraction facility that supports the research and educational efforts of multiple scientists across the metropolitan area of the island of Puerto Rico. The single crystal X-ray diffractometer is used in structural analysis of solid materials. It is aimed at enhancing research in a variety of areas including (a) synthesizing and characterizing magnetic materials for memory devices, sensors, and imaging agents, (b) designing applications and mechanistic studies for crystallization on surfaces, (c) designing a non-aldol approach towards the synthesis of polypropionate derived natural targets, (d) developing layered inorganic compounds as hosts for catalysts and drugs, (e) isolating and structurally elucidating marine natural products, (f) structurally characterizing pharmaceutical solid forms obtained in continuous crystallization processes, (g) synthesizing new transition metal complexes based on pyrene derivatives with promising applications in memory devices; and (h) synthesizing and characterizing aromatic heterocyclic compounds as potential pharmacological agents.