MRI: track 1 acquisition of a cpad x-RAY diffractometer for chemical and biochemical research and education

The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded Vassar College $449,931 on September 1, 2026, under the Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083) to acquire a CPAD X-ray diffractometer for chemical and biochemical research and education. The instrument enables chemical and biochemical crystallography — determination of identity and three-dimensional structures of crystalline materials at the atomic level. The diffractometer features increased detector sensitivity on a motorized track for adjusting crystal-to-detector distance, ease of mounting frozen samples, and more intense X-ray sources, capabilities particularly valuable for biological crystallography and projects yielding tiny, weakly diffracting crystals. Research enabled by the instrument spans synthetic and structural chemistry, bacterial conjugative proteins, aluminum and platinum complexes, rigidochromism, and bioinorganic chemistry of copper and ruthenium complexes. The instrument enhances regional research infrastructure for Vassar College and neighboring institutions in the Hudson Valley of New York State, supporting scholarly publication, collaboration, faculty advancement, and undergraduate research engagement. Performance of work occurs in Poughkeepsie, New York, with a period of performance through August 31, 2029.

Abstract

This award supports the acquisition of an x-RAY diffractometer which facilitates research in several areas of chemistry and biochemistry, and in molecular structural science in general. Specifically, the instrument enables chemical and biochemical crystallography - the determination of the identity and three-dimensional structures of crystalline materials at the atomic level. Knowledge of molecular structure drives our understanding of matter and chemical reactions that is critical in supporting scientific advances. This instrument offers crucial capabilities including increased sensitivity of the new detector on a motorized track to adjust crystal to detector distance routinely, ease of mounting frozen samples, and more intense x-RAY sources to attain better intensity which are invaluable particularly for biological crystallography, as well as for any project where only tiny, weakly diffracting crystals are obtained. This instrument enhances the research infrastructure in the region including vassar college and neighboring institutions in the hudson valley of new york state. IT creates increased opportunities for scholarly publication, collaboration, faculty advancement, and student engagement in research and research training. Research enabled by this instrument is focused on several distinct lines of scholarly work: (1) synthetic and structural chemistry: structural impact of ligand variation in coordination chemistry and escaping from aromatic flatland, (2) biochemistry: structural and biochemical characterization of bacterial conjugative proteins, (3) inorganic chemistry: aluminum CCC-pincer complexes, (4) inorganic chemistry: rigidochromism in PT(II) and PT(IV) complexes and bioinorganic chemistry of RU(II), (5) bioinorganic chemistry: the chemical biology of CU(II) complexes containing n and s type donor atoms, (6) biochemistry: structural characterization of membrane proteins required for polysaccharide utilization by the bacteroidetes, (7) organic/materials chemistry: enantioselective molecular recognition with macrocyclic vicinal diamines and (8) organic/materials chemistry: c-shaped diastereomers containing cofacial thiophene-substituted quinoxaline rings. The structural data that the instrument provides significantly advances these research projects, as well as those of other vassar or regional users that are attracted to the facility?s expanded capabilities. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.