Overview of NMR Research
NMR-based research is focussed in a small number of closely-linked strategic research areas within the Department:
- Supramolecular Chemistry, their design and synthesis and the related area of sensors;
- Pharmaceutical R&D;
- Biotechnology, particularly peptides.
What all three have in common is significant efforts in chemical synthesis, necessitating characterisation of new materials by spectroscopy, especially NMR. Many of the new compounds are then probed for their binding properties, e.g. with neutral ‘guest’ species or with metal ions, and again NMR is often the most efficient and powerful technique for identifying and quantifying the new chemical phenomena emerging. Examples of advanced experiments that can be performed are: 3-dimensional characterisation; study of fluxional phenomena and measurements in supramolecular chemistry. The research capability and experience of the Centres academic researchers in this area means that the Centre acts as a “virtual research group” within a number of other research groups where synthesis is involved. In addition, the Centre supports the research and development efforts of companies in the region through its external service “NMR-ITT”.
