X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AND THE SYNTHETIC CHEMIST: "HANDS-ON" OR "HANDS-OFF"? John H. Enemark and Michael A. Bruck, Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA

X-ray crystallography is a powerful method for structure elucidation that should be one the physical methods included in the education of contemporary synthetic chemists and materials scientists. the recent advances in area detector technology and user-friendly computer programs have reduced the time required to determine the structure of an organic compound to be competitive with multi- dimensional NMR experiments. In order for non-specialists to take full advantage of these advances, effective methods need to be available for novices to learn the essential fundamentals of x-ray structure determination in a practical "hands-on" environment. For several years we have offered a course which involves both lectures in crystallography and immediate "hands-on" experience on a research problem. A key to the success of this approach is the continued active involvement of the departmental crystallography facility and the staff crystallographer so that the students can move seamlessly from the course to using x-ray structure determination in their own chemical research problems. This presentation will summarize the evolution of the format of this course as instrumental and computing capabilities have changed. The use of interactive graphics programs and materials on the World Wide Web for teaching crystallography will be discussed, and approaches to developing an auto-tutorial program for introducing novices to practical x-ray structure determination will be described. The ever increasing importance of structural results to synthetic chemists and materials scientists requires that professional crystallographers and faculty develop facilities that can provide "hands-on" education in the powerful techniques of x-ray structure determination, as well as "hands-off" structural service.