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

The proposed equipment is an inert atmosphere double glovebox required for a variety of applications in the synthetic inorganic, organic and polymer chemistries carried out at Ryerson University.  The inert atmosphere of the glovebox allows for the preparation, storage and safe handling of small to moderate quantities of moisture and air sensitive compounds. Moisture and air levels are maintained at < 1 ppm by the continuous recirculation of the inert atmosphere (Nitrogen or Argon) over drying columns. Storage and transfer of pyrophoric or moisture sensitive materials is facilitated by ready access through small and large port doors.  Reactions, weighing operations, sample preparation, and crystal growth of sensitive materials are safely and readily carried out in the glovebox. The low temperature refrigerator (-35 oC) provides an additional advantage of storing heat sensitive reactive materials in the glove box, or as a suitable location to recrystallize recovered air and moisture sensitive materials. Proper use of the glovebox can lead to higher synthetic yields, longer shelf life and storage of sensitive materials, and safer working conditions. The higher productivity and greater degree of safety expected with the glovebox would be realized by the participants on this RTI.  Daniel Foucher will use this glovebox to prepare air and moisture sensitive tin compounds in the preparation of polymers for applications in inkjet printable circuitry. Rob Gossage will use the glovebox to prepare and recrystalize air and moisture sensitive transition metal complexes with applications as catalysts and breast cancer therapies. Russell Viirre will use this equipment in the development of new reactions for the synthesis of medicinal compounds and molecular sensors.