single crystal X-ray diffractometer with rotating anode

• Subject Area: Molecular Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 555513813

Since 1995, the Chairs of Organic Chemistry I + II at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg have been operating a service facility for X-ray structure analysis. Even at that time, the demand for OC structures could no longer be met by the colleagues in inorganic chemistry. Because of these research requirements, a setup of Mo rotating anodes with a CCD area counter was implemented, which was operated very successfully for almost 17 years. With the change of the chair of the OC-I and the simultaneous change in research away from predominantly organometallic chemistry towards corresponding "carbon rich" research topics, a TWIN device with area counter and Cu or Mo microsource tube was obtained in 2011 and is still in operation today. The current research focus shows a constantly increasing demand for crystal structures, with crystals in particular becoming smaller and smaller or growing in less than optimal quality, if at all. The very high number of data sets of chiral compounds and isomers does not facilitate crystallization. In addition, the target molecules obtained from complex chromatographic separations usually occur in very small substance quantities, or they are supramolecular structures with high flexibilities in solution that are generally very difficult to crystallize. In very many measurements it is now the case that no satisfactory or even publishable data sets could be obtained. After extensive test measurements by the three manufacturers available on the market, the measurements on devices with a standard microfocus tube achieved good results - significantly better than with the diffractometer currently available. However, the data sets that could be measured on a Cu rotating anode were completely convincing. The direct comparison showed us the potential of this machine for current and future research projects, and we are therefore applying for an X-ray diffractometer with a current area counter and a Cu rotating anode.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Einkristallröntgen-Diffraktometer mit Cu-Drehanode
• Instrumentation Group: 4010 Einkristall-Diffraktometer
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Leader: Professor Dr. Henry Dube