A. Kohen, H.H. Limbach "Isotope Effects in Chemistry and Biology"

Low temperature liquid and solid state NMR, hydrogen transfer and hydrogen bonding, catalysis, isotope effects and labels, crystalline and amorphous solids, surfaces.

The current research program is focused on the design and the study by NMR spectroscopy of the structure and dynamics of isotopically labeled molecular model systems for proton and hydride transfer.

The range between small organic molecules embedded in liquids, solids and surfaces, modified enzymes, oligonucleotides and transition metal hydrides is covered. All instruments of variable temperature liquid and solid state NMR spectroscopy are applied.

The aim is to measure kinetic, equilibrium and geometric isotope and tunnel effects of hydrogen transfer in high- and low-barrier hydrogen bonds and in the coordination sphere of transition metal catalysts, and to model the results theoretically.

A substantial part of the work is done in collaboration with other research groups specialized in the areas of spectroscopy, synthetic and theoretical chemistry, supramolecular, polymer and biochemistry, material and surface science.