Grant: Major Facilities Access Grants

The Atlantic Region Magnetic Resonance Centre (ARMRC) is a research resource for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy serving clients primarily in the Maritime provinces. Based at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the ARMRC houses four spectrometers, including 250 and 500 MHz instruments for liquids, and 400 and 700 MHz instruments for solids, with another 700 MHz instrument optimized for biomolecular NMR currently on order. These spectrometers are capable of performing a wide range of experiments used to determine the structure and properties of samples ranging from simple molecules to complex solids and biochemical fluids; structural determination by magnetic resonance experiments is absolutely essential in most areas of synthetic chemistry, and is also of prime importance in biochemistry and materials science. Over seventy different research groups make use of the facility, including university-based laboratories in Canada and abroad, government laboratories, and private industry. The Centre provides extensive services both within its laboratories and on an out-reach basis. Within the laboratories, the instruments are operated both directly by users, after thorough training by the staff, and by the staff for complex experiments and for service experiments for external clients not able to come to laboratory in person. The staff consult extensively with the users to provide scientific interpretation and support. The staff also make regular out-reach visits to partner institutions, primarily other universities in the region, to provide expert training and advice concerning the use of modern magnetic resonance experiments and the ARMRC capabilities. In this way the Centre serves as a catalyst for research in the region in areas ranging from synthetic chemistry to biochemistry to materials science and engineering.