Project description
Faster technologies will capture catalyst and enzyme reactions better
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an established technology widely used in analytical chemistry to determine molecular structure and sample content. Stopped-flow NMR rapidly mixes reactants in a chamber and then stops the flow in the reactant stream for measurements. It enables the study of very fast reactions using a probe with a very fast flow rate and a very short time between the end of mixing and the start of measurement (dead time). The EU-funded fastNMR project will enhance its advanced in situ stopped-flow NMR methodology, reducing the dead time by one to two orders of magnitude with a focus on revealing the dynamics of important catalytic and enzymatic processes.
Objective
The project will involve further design and development of our methodology, developed under the ERC Advanced grant 'arylator', for variable ratio in situ stopped flow NMR. The methodology has recently been published and its power amply demonstrated in the deconvolution of the mechanism for CF3 transfer from Ruppert's reagent to electrophiles. The equipment that will developed and demonstrated under tenure of a proof of concept grant will reduce the dead time from 0.2 seconds to a matter of milliseconds whilst retaining the flexibility of our current system. Thus a standard walk-up NMR spectrometer can thus be used ad hoc for the analysis of very fast homogeneous reactions. This will be transformative for the mechanistic analysis of reactions, including catalysed and enzymatic processes, and will significantly enhance the commercial potential of the stopped flow NMR system.
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Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantHost institution
EH8 9YL Edinburgh
United Kingdom