Eldon C. Nelson - US grants

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the most powerful tool available to the chemist for the elucidation of the structure of molecules. It is used to identify unknown substances, characterize specific arrangements of atoms within molecules, and to study the dynamics of interactions between molecules in solution. Access to state-of-the-art NMR spectrometry is essential to chemists and biochemists who are carrying out frontier research. This award, co-supported by the Chemical Instrumentation Program and the Biological Instrumentation Program, will help the Chemistry Department of Oklahoma State University to acquire a high-field NMR spectrometer. The areas of research that will be enhanced by the acquisition include: 1) Synthesis of diheterobicyclic and heteroarotinoid molecules 2) Studies on the structure of face to face pi-systems and the use of metal complexes in organic synthesis 3) Synthesis of heterocyclophanes and the photochemistry of constrained molecules 4) Studies of the thermodynamics of fossil fuels 5) Synthesis and characterization of polymers 6) Studies of the effects of small hydrophobic molecules on heme proteins 7) Studies of the structure of the polymers in plant cell walls 8) Studies of the metabolism of retinoids 9) Studies of the elucidation of the mechanism of electron transfer and energy conservation reactions of ubiquinone in mitochondria

retinoids; drug screening /evaluation; chemical structure function; antineoplastics; retinoate; cytotoxicity; cell growth regulation; chemical synthesis; retinoid binding proteins; disease /disorder model;