Polarimeter for use in asymmetric synthesis of natural products involving Rh(II)-carbenoid chemistry

分子可以表现出手性的性质;即，分子和它们的镜像是不可重叠的。分子和它们的镜像被称为对映体。对映异构体具有相同的化学和物理性质，因此彼此无法区分。然而，对映异构体具有独特的手性性质;它们能够以相等但相反的方向旋转平面偏振光（旋光）。天然存在的物质以一种对映体形式存在，而合成分子被制备为外消旋混合物（对映体的50：50混合物）或（理想地）一种对映体形式（手性非外消旋）。我的研究方向是不对称合成和天然产物的合成。合成手性非外消旋分子。为了确定在反应中形成哪种对映体，我们使用称为旋光计的分析仪器测量分子的旋光度。旋光测定法是一种技术，可用来区分对映异构体和确定化合物的非外消旋性质，需要经费购买一台新的自动旋光仪，以取代一台陈旧的旋光仪。现代旋光仪现在更容易和更方便地使用和学生（研究生和本科生一样）将很快学会这种分析技术，并接受培训，应用旋光测量手性非外消旋分子的分析。学生将获得的技能，知识和技术专长应该为他们在学术界或工业界的未来努力服务。

Molecules can exhibit the property of handedness; i.e., the molecules and their mirror images are non-superimposable. The molecules and their mirror images are called enantiomers. Enantiomers have identical chemical and physical properties and hence are indistinguishable from each other. However, enantiomers possess a unique chiroptical property; they have the ability to rotate plane-polarized light in equal but opposite directions (optical rotation). Naturally occurring substances exist in one enantiomeric form whereas synthetic molecules are prepared either as racemic mixtures (50:50  mixture of enantiomers) or in (ideally) one enantiomeric form (chiral non-racemic). My research program is concerned with asymmetric synthesis and natural product synthesis. Chiral non-racemic molecules are synthesized. In order to determine which enantiomer is formed in a reaction, we measure the optical rotation of the molecule using an analytical instrument called a polarimeter. Polarimetry is a technique that allows one to distinguish between enantiomers and for establishing the non-racemic nature of a compound.Funds are requested for the purchase of a new automatic polarimeter to replace an antiquated one. Modern polarimeters are now easier and more convenient to use and students (graduates and undergraduates alike) will quickly learn this analytical technique and be trained to apply polarimetric measurements in the analysis of chiral non-racemic molecules. The skills, knowledge and technical expertise  that the students will acquire should  serve them well in their future endeavours in academia or in industry.