The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry maintains an impressive collection of Mass Spectrometry, NMR Spectroscopy, Optical Characterization and X-Ray facilities. On top of that, our group has access to the following Instruments:
CombiFlash
No one likes to column, but often it has to be done. For those tricky columns that just never seem to give pure material, we have two automated flash column chromatography machines ready for use.
Polarimeter
Our group has a Perkin Elmer Model 341 Polarimeter. This instrument is useful for determining the optical rotation of optically active compounds. It features both Na (589 nm) and Hg lamps and is primarily used for measuring the specific rotation of compounds in solution.
GC-MS
Agilent 8890 GC equipped with a 5977 MS detector is also available. This system allows analyses of compounds up to 1050 AMU thanks to a gold/quartz quadrupole and has enhanced abilities to analyze samples from complex matrices. Included is an 16 vial auto-injector for unattended use of this instrument.
GC
Group members have access to one HP/Agilent gas chromatograph. Controllable through Agilent's ChemStation™ interface, the instruments can be equipped with a wide variety of capillary columns to separate compounds both achiral and chiral in nature. The group is also equipped with a new Agilent 8890 GC with a 16 sample tray for automated injections.
Glove Box
We have one glovebox made by Vigor, equipped with an anti-static device to ensure easy weighing of water sensitize powdered reagents (e.g., LAH). It can be entered by either a small or large anti-chamber.
Solvent Filtration
We have removed the stills and solely run our dry reactions with solvent from a PureSolv filtration system by Innovative Technology Inc..
High Performance Liquid Chromatography
FTIR
We have acquired a Perkin Elmer Spectrum Two UATR FT-IR Spectrometer. The diamond ATR requires a minimal amount of sample in its native state - solid or liquid, and thus does away with KBr pellets or oil mulls, though solutions can also be used. The machine is robust yet portable and can be placed in a hood or a glove-box if required. The software is very user-friendly and comes with spectral libraries against which the generated spectra can be compared.
Computers
A group computer facility/library, located across the hall from our labs, houses several Macintosh and PCs, as well as a Linux system used to run theoretical calculations and workup NMR spectra. We subscribe to most journals on organic chemistry, and we can carry out literature searches electronically with both Scifinder and Reaxys. Microsoft Office as well as programs such as ChemDraw are available at each station.
Interested in joining the group?
If you are considering joining us as a future graduate student, and you share the vision and have the passion to help change the world of organic chemistry, please let us know.