Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a technique used to monitor chemical reactions and determine the structures of chemicals. Because it is such useful technique, it is used in a wide variety of chemistry teaching and research programs. Every chemistry department that is involved in teaching and research has a laboratory devoted to NMR spectroscopy. NMR spectrometers have three main parts: an electronics console, a probe, and a powerful superconducting magnet. Our primary research NMR spectrometer, a Varian UNITY 400, is now almost twenty years old. Due to the age of this instrument, the electronics console suffers from many breakdowns. Often it is difficult to find replacement parts because many of the components of the console are now obsolete. Hence it is becoming increasing difficult to keep this critical instrument running. During the lengthy periods it is out of service, the research programs that rely on this instrument suffer delays. We have already obtained approximately $80,000 in funding to obtain a new probe and refurbish the magnet for this instrument. This application is requesting funding to replace the electronics console with a newer refurbished model that, along with the new probe and refurbished magnet, will ensure the continuing operation of this instrument. The newer console will also provide expanded capabilities that will make this instrument even more useful to the supported research programs. Many research programs underway at UNB are dependent on this instrument. Programs that are supported include research into catalysis and energy storage; the synthesis and identification of natural products with potential medicinal and pharmaceutical properties; the development of new materials from biological sources such as wood fibres; and the preparation and study of novel molecular magnets