Refurbishment of a 400 MHz NMR spectrometer

• Subject Area: Molecular Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 524348822

NMR spectroscopy plays a key role in the characterization of chemical compounds, resulting in an enormous need for sophisticated methods at the Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster due its diverse focal points. Current research at the institute in the field of main group element chemistry includes silicon ring compounds and silicon clusters with extraordinary properties. In the field of transition metal chemistry, the research groups deal, amongst others, with N-heterocyclic carbenes, with luminophores and the metal complexes obtained thereof, and with supramolecular aggregates and their applications as functional materials. In the field of bioinorganic chemistry, one focus is the development and characterization of artificial nucleic acids with metal-mediated base pairs. Furthermore, new synthetic methods for the preparation of nucleic acids with a boron-modified backbone are being developed. In collaboration with research groups from the MEET Battery Research Center, the mostly fluorine- and phosphorus-containing electrolytes of battery storage systems and their rearrangement, aging and decomposition products are characterized in detail. Furthermore, the NMR division at the Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, which is part of the department-wide NMR center, is one of the general contacts for investigating inorganic and organometallic compounds as well as organic compounds containing phosphorus and fluorine. Without exception, these research areas have a high demand for different NMR methods. High-resolution spectra are required, for example, to determine the structure of complex silicon clusters, to characterize carefully small amounts of substances or compounds of low solubility, to investigate dynamic processes in solution, or for structure determinations. NMR spectroscopy allows a precise structure elucidation even when no crystalline material is available. The requested console will enable the institute to continue to carry out the large number of required measurements at a high level (e.g. NMR measurements accompanying syntheses, complete structure determinations using 1D and homo- or heteronuclear 2D NMR spectroscopy, time-consuming investigations of dynamic behavior). After the modernization, the 400 MHz NMR spectrometer will fulfill excellently the above-mentioned tasks and will reliably enable the application of urgently needed modern NMR methods with a wide measuring range and the measurement of numerous heteronuclei. The procurement is indispensable for the international competitiveness of research at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy in Münster and for the competent implementation of current and future projects with third-party funding.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Modernisierung 400 MHz-NMR-Spektrometer
• Instrumentation Group: 1740 Hochauflösende NMR-Spektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Leader: Professor Dr. Jens Müller