Equipment
The Clever Lab is equipped with a range of techniques for multistep organic and inorganic synthesis, compound purification, structure elucidation and analysis of multiple properties. Besides the below listed machines, the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at TU Dortmund University, as well as its embedding in the University Alliance Ruhr, opens possibilities to access an even wider range of spectroscopies, microscopies and other methods such as EPR, time-resolved fs spectroscopy, TEM, AFM and many more in collaboration.
NMR spectrometer
500 MHz Bruker Avance neo NMR spectrometer with different probe heads, temperature control unit and sample changer. A range of further NMR spectrometers up to 700 MHz is available in the department.
Mass spectrometer
High-resolution Ion Mobility-ESI mass spectrometer Bruker timsTOF with HPLC and syringe pump infusion, glove box connection and cold spray ionization (cryo ESI) source.
This machine is not only suited to obtain the mass/charge ratio of supramolecular analytes with high precision and isotopic pattern resolution, it also delivers a value for the gas phase ion mobility, which can be converted into a collisional cross section (CCS in Å2). CCS values are indicative of an ions size and shape and can be used to distinguish isomers (with same m/z), simplify the analysis of complex mixtures and obtain valuable information about conformational flexibility and structural switching processes. We further use software tools to calculate theoretical CCS values from molecular models or X-ray structures in order to compare them with the experimental values.
The cryo-ESI source allows injection of analytes at much lower temperatures than usually applied in ESI sources, thus enabling the MS detection of very fragile coordination compounds or non-covalent adducts.
Diffractometer
Single crystal X-ray diffractometer (Bruker D8 Venture, with Incoatec Microsources 3.0 Cu and Mo, Photon II detector) for crystal structure elucidations of organic, inorganic, supramolecular and biopolymeric species.
In cases where microscopic crystal sizes, enormous units cells, highly disordered side chains and solvents lead to poor diffraction, we are fully equipped to freeze mounted crystals, kept in standardized pucks, contained in transportable dewars, down to liquid nitrogen temperature and bring them to synchrotron sources such as DESY’s Petra III, P11, beamline in Hamburg to collect diffraction data.
Atomic force microscope
Cypher ES from Asylum Research with a heating stage (0-100°C) and a perfusion cell. It is also possible to measure samples in a liquid in addition to dry samples with this device.
Glovebox and SPS
Glovebox, coupled to a solvent purification system (SPS).
The argon-filled containment allows handling highly sensitive substrates, reaction intermediates and supramolecular species without risking exposure to oxygen and moisture. A selection of dry solvents can be withdrawn outside or directly from within the glovebox.
Wet Glovebox
Wet Glovebox (model: Mega Line) with an automated gas purification system from GS Glovebox Systemtechnik.
UV-Vis spectrometer
DAD HP-8453 UV-Vis
Spectrometer with kinetics software and adapter for Unisoku Coolspek temperature-controlled cuvette holder.
Jasco V-650 and Jasco V-750
Two temperature controlled UV-Vis spectrometers with 5x cuvette changer for DNA melting curve analysis.
Fluorescence spectrometer
Jasco FP-8300 fluorescence spectrometer with adapter for Unisoku Coolspek temperature-controlled cuvette holder.
CD spectrometer
Circular Dichroism (CD) spectrometer (Applied Photophysics qCD Chirascan) with temperature-controlled cuvette holder.
Jasco CPL-300 CPL Spectrometer
Jasco CPL-300 CPL spectrometer with temperature-controlled cuvette holder. This instrument allows the determination of circularly polarized emission from chiral luminescent compounds and supramolecular aggregates.
Spectro-electrochemistry setup
Metrohm Autolab PGSTAT-101 with Avantes light source and DAD UV-Vis spectrometer, various electrodes, reaction cells and cuvettes.
ITC
Malvern Microcal Peaq Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) with Hastelloy cell, washing unit and different software tools for data interpretation.
Melting point apparatus
Stuart SMP30
HPLC
Normal Phase HPLC
Agilent Technologies 1260 Infinity with autosampler, UV-Vis detector, fraction collector and various columns, including chiral ones for the separation of enantiomers
Two reversed phase HPLC systems
Agilent Technologies 1260 Infinity I/II with autosampler, DAD detector, column oven, for the analysis and purification of DNA strands.
GPC
Two preparative recycling gel permeation chromatography systems (GPC, from Japan Analytical Industry) with columns for different organic solvents. GPC purification is usually the last purification step for organic ligands before applying them in metal-mediated self-assembly.
MPLC
Biotage Isolera One MPLC cartridge purification system with TLC simulating software and automated fraction collector.
Microwave reactor
CEM Discover SP for heating reaction mixtures in open and closed vessels
3D-Printer
Filament Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D Printer (Ultimaker 3) with two printing heads for simultaneous extrusion of durable PLA (poly lactide) plastic for printing molecular models and X-ray structures and water-dissolvable PVA (poly vinyl alcohol) support meant to keep the PLA in place during printing.
DNA Synthesizer
K&A Laborgeraete H-8 for the simultaneous preparation of up to eight oligonucleotide strands by phosphoramidite solid phase synthesis.
Realtime PCR
Agilent AriaMx for performing realtime polymerase chain reaction.
Gel Documentation
Gel Documentation system (Intas Gel IX 20).
Vacuum centrifuges
Two vacuum centrifuges (H.Saur S-Concentrator BA-VC-300H)
Nanodrop
Thermo Scientific Nanodrop One for elucidation of DNA concentration.
Glassware washer
Lab glassware washer (Steelco lab 500 DRS)
Xe Illumination Device
XENON-illumination instrument MAX-350 generates monochromatic light (300 W) for a range of possible wavelength for irradiation of samples and photoswitches. It is also possible to attach optic fibre cables for irradiation of samples inside vials / tubes.
Irradiation equipment
For photochemical conversions, consisting of a 500 W Hg lamp, different filters and power LED modules
Polarization microscope
Leica DM2500LED polarization microscope including camera and Linkam LTSE420 temperature stage for material characterization
Workstations
Several Xeon multiprocessor workstations for DFT calculations and MD simulations
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Location & approach
The campus of TU Dortmund University is located close to interstate junction Dortmund West, where the Sauerlandlinie A 45 (Frankfurt-Dortmund) crosses the Ruhrschnellweg B 1 / A 40. The best interstate exit to take from A 45 is "Dortmund-Eichlinghofen" (closer to Campus Süd), and from B 1 / A 40 "Dortmund-Dorstfeld" (closer to Campus Nord). Signs for the university are located at both exits. Also, there is a new exit before you pass over the B 1-bridge leading into Dortmund.
To get from Campus Nord to Campus Süd by car, there is the connection via Vogelpothsweg/Baroper Straße. We recommend you leave your car on one of the parking lots at Campus Nord and use the H-Bahn (suspended monorail system), which conveniently connects the two campuses.
TU Dortmund University has its own train station ("Dortmund Universität"). From there, suburban trains (S-Bahn) leave for Dortmund main station ("Dortmund Hauptbahnhof") and Düsseldorf main station via the "Düsseldorf Airport Train Station" (take S-Bahn number 1, which leaves every 20 or 30 minutes). The university is easily reached from Bochum, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and Duisburg.
You can also take the bus or subway train from Dortmund city to the university: From Dortmund main station, you can take any train bound for the Station "Stadtgarten", usually lines U41, U45, U 47 and U49. At "Stadtgarten" you switch trains and get on line U42 towards "Hombruch". Look out for the Station "An der Palmweide". From the bus stop just across the road, busses bound for TU Dortmund University leave every ten minutes (445, 447 and 462). Another option is to take the subway routes U41, U45, U47 and U49 from Dortmund main station to the stop "Dortmund Kampstraße". From there, take U43 or U44 to the stop "Dortmund Wittener Straße". Switch to bus line 447 and get off at "Dortmund Universität S".
The H-Bahn is one of the hallmarks of TU Dortmund University. There are two stations on Campus Nord. One ("Dortmund Universität S") is directly located at the suburban train stop, which connects the university directly with the city of Dortmund and the rest of the Ruhr Area. Also from this station, there are connections to the "Technologiepark" and (via Campus Süd) Eichlinghofen. The other station is located at the dining hall at Campus Nord and offers a direct connection to Campus Süd every five minutes.
The AirportExpress is a fast and convenient means of transport from Dortmund Airport (DTM) to Dortmund Central Station, taking you there in little more than 20 minutes. From Dortmund Central Station, you can continue to the university campus by interurban railway (S-Bahn). A larger range of international flight connections is offered at Düsseldorf Airport (DUS), which is about 60 kilometres away and can be directly reached by S-Bahn from the university station.
The facilities of TU Dortmund University are spread over two campuses, the larger Campus North and the smaller Campus South. Additionally, some areas of the university are located in the adjacent "Technologiepark".
Site Map of TU Dortmund University (Second Page in English).