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Facilities

Saint Louis University’s Department of Chemistry has instructional labs, research labs, classrooms, and offices in Monsanto and Shannon Halls.

High Resolution NMR Lab

The SLU High Resolution NMR Lab is an open-access facility located in Shannon Hall, Room 8. The lab houses a multinuclear Bruker spectrometer with a field strength of 16.4 Tesla. This spectrometer is a powerful tool to investigate the structures and dynamics of organic molecules and biomolecules as well as conduct new NMR experiments.

Although this lab is physically housed within SLU’s Department of Chemistry, its staff provides NMR services as needed to the entire campus community, as well as corporate users and other universities and organizations. After appropriate training, users from different research groups can also conduct their own NMR experiments.

Samples may also be submitted for analysis to the service and are returned to you together with the completed spectra. You may seek the assistance of the NMR staff for the analysis of your data. The NMR instrument is accessible to trained users 24 hours a day, year-round.

The nuclei of interest to most users are 1H and 13C, followed by 15N, 31P, 2H and 19F. The NMR experiments available range from relatively simple one-dimensional (1D) direct-observe experiments (for 1H, 13C, 15N, 31P and 19F) to more elaborate two-dimensional (2D) experiments such as COSY, NOESY, HMQC/HSQC and HMBC, as well as diffusion and dynamics NMR experiments.

Lab manager: Fahu He

Bruker Avance II HDTM 700

Equipped with TOPSPIN software provided by Bruker for data acquisition, archiving and processing, the Bruker Avance HDTM 700MHz NMR spectrometer is a research-oriented instrument primarily used for long-term experiments, H/C/X triple resonance experiments and biomolecular experiments.

The instrument specifications include:

  • The Bruker Ascend 700MHz Premium Shielded magnet (54mm bore)
  • 1H-19F/15N/31P/13C/2D 5mm PFG quadruple resonance inverse detection Cryoprobe
    • Frequency range: 1H-19F/ 15N/31P/13C/2D
    • Temp range: -40° to +80° C
    • Other features: Automatic tuning and matching
  • 1H/13C/15N/2D 5mm PFG triple resonance inverse detection probe
    • Frequency range: 1H{13C/15N/2D}
    • Temp range: -150° to +150° C
    • Other features: Automatic tuning and matching
  • 5 rf channels with pulsed field gradient and waveform generators
  • Automatic tuning and matching accessory
  • Variable temperature capability (-150oC to +150oC)
  • Automatic sample changer: SampleCase
  • Sample positioning unit (SPU) to permit use of shaped tubes
  • Anti-vibration legs system
  • Two probes are available: a 5mm inverse triple resonance (TXI) probe and a quadruple resonance inverse (QCI-H/F P active) cryoprobe.

NMR Services

  • Organic molecule structure determination
  • 1H, 13C, 31P, 15N, 19F 1D and DEPT experiments
  • 2D COSY, NOESY, TOCSY, HMQC, HMBC, HSQC
  • Biomolecule structure determination
    • Protein
      • 2D 1H-15N HSQC
      • 3D CBCA(CO)NNH ; CBCANH / HNCACB; HNCO ; HN(CA)CO
      • 3D 15N-NOESY-HSQC
    • RNA/DNA
      • 1D exchangeable protons in water (solvent suppression)
      • 1D non-exchangeable protons in D2O
      • 2D NOESY in water with solvent suppression
      • 2D NOESY in D2O
      • 2D COSY
      • 1D phosphorus
      • 2D HETCOR (H-P)
  • Dynamic study
    • Chemical exchange
      • DOSY
      • T1, T2, T1ρ
      • NOE

Becoming a User

Research workers may be trained to use the 700MHz spectrometer. The basic training program covers the procedures necessary to obtain basic 1D NMR spectra of common nuclei (1H and 13C) using standard Bruker parameter sets, as well as the administrative and safety issues related to the use of the NMR lab. After the training, all users will be checked out first in order to become approved NMR users. More advanced training is available upon request.

Cost

Rates are $20/hr for academic users and $80-110/hr for industrial users.  For more information about facility, instrumentation and services provided, please contact the facility manager, Dr. Fahu He (314-377-3241/ fahu.he@slu.edu) in the Department of Chemistry.

Instruments

The following instruments are available to users in the chemistry lab:

  • Bruker NMR 400 MHz Avance III
  • FEI SEM Inspect F
  • Rigaku XRD MiniFlex 600
  • Shimadzu FTIR-8400S with ATR accessory
  • Shimadzu GCMS-QP2010S
  • Shimadzu LCMS-2010EV
  • GBC AA 908AA
  • Renishaw Raman Microscope inVIa
  • TA Instruments DSC/TGA SDT Q600
  • Shimadzu GC-2010 Plus
  • Mettler Toledo KF Titrator C20
  • Denton Sputter Coater Desk V
  • Li-Cor DNA Analyzer 4300
  • Shimadzu Fluorometer RF-5301 PC
  • Cary 100 UV-Vis
  • Johnson-Matthey Guoy Balance
  • Parr Solution Calorimeter 1455
  • Fisher Conductivity Meter

Contact: Damon Osbourn