# Equipment Supplement: Distal Anion Stabilization of Biologically Relevant Oxo Intermediates

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2023 · $28,641

## Abstract

Abstract
This equipment request is for a compact IR spectrometer that will fit into an inert atmosphere
glovebox which will enable the rapid and reliable characterization of transient intermediates at
cryogenic temperatures. Our parent award involves the characterization of what secondary
sphere effects influence the activity of metalloenzyme active sites. We are particularly interested
in understanding how electric fields, coupled proton and electron transfer scaffolds, as well as
specifically basic oxidizing intermediates enable activity and selectivity in oxidative
transformations that underpin many biological pathways. Virtually all of the metal species involved
in these pathways feature vibrationally active modes which both serve as vital characterization
signatures as well as avenues for insight on the geometric or electronic structures of the proposed
intermediates. Cryogenic Raman spectroscopy is an invaluable tool, but can be operationally
challenging and also typically relies on resonance enhancement. We have looked at Raman
spectroscopy extensively, but our complexes do not exhibit any resonance enhancement,
rendering this technique difficult.
 This equipment request would provide us with a compact IR spectrometer that we can use in a
glovebox. This is important as having this spectrometer in an inert atmosphere will both provide
us with a way to work with reactive species, but will also enable us to do cryogenic experiments
without any complications from moisture condensation. This is a significant advantage in
characterization. We will use a cryogenically cooled heatsink, which can be prepared in a
glovebox cold well, the provide cooling on an ATR platform on a commercial compact IR
spectrometer from Bruker. This will enable us to add reagents in-situ and obtain reliable data on
even highly reactive and transient intermediates. The new capabilities provided by this instrument
will facilitate the characterization of several transient intermediates we are currently working with,
and thus will greatly accelerate the rate of progress for this project.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10799259
- **Project number:** 3R35GM133470-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** John Stuart Anderson
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $28,641
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10799259

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10799259, Equipment Supplement: Distal Anion Stabilization of Biologically Relevant Oxo Intermediates (3R35GM133470-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10799259. Licensed CC0.

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