Small molecule / chemical crystallography

Three dimensional (3D) atomic structures of small molecules may be unambiguously determined by employing the technique of single crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD). Such chemical compounds, which may be of either chemical or biological interest, include — but are not limited to — new synthetic chemicals, catalysts, pharmaceuticals, and natural products.

As a global leader in analytical X-ray technology, Rigaku is committed to helping solve your small molecule crystallographic problems. To that end, Rigaku offers four small molecule crystallography systems — combinations of area detector, goniometer, generator, optics, and software — to address particular needs in your lab, group or department.

Once a crystal of the compound under investigation has been grown, the complete diffraction pattern — which may consist of thousands of individual measurements — resulting from the interaction of an intense X-ray beam with the crystal is collected on a large area detector that can collect a vast number of observations in a single exposure. Automated structure solution is accomplished by analysis of the complex diffraction pattern. This same technique can also be used to produce detailed electron density maps of molecular bonds.