The modern world faces a number of challenges related to energy and the environment. Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide have now surpassed the 400 ppm mark due to the burning of fossil fuels, yet despite its abundance and potential use as a C1 feedstock for value-added products, there are both thermodynamic and kinetic barriers associated with the strong carbon-oxygen bonds that preclude its widespread deployment in industry. Nuclear energy is an alternative power source that reduces carbon emissions by billions of tonnes each year, but there are widespread concerns regarding the treatment of the radioactive waste that it accrues (of which the main component is uranyl, [UO2]2+). Most of the work presented in this thesis concerns the synthesis of transition-metal complexes, with the aim of directing catalytic reactivity to convert CO2 to useful products. Part of this thesis also concerns the synthesis of uranyl complexes and the study of uranyl reduction chemistry, which is relevant to uranyl remediation and nuclear waste treatment at a fundamental level. Making use of Earth-abundant metals to carry out hydrocarbon oxidation catalysis is a further focus of this work, as the efficient production of oxygenated compounds under mild conditions is of importance to the fine-chemical industry. Chapter 1 reviews important complexes reported in the literature that successfully convert CO2 to useful products through molecular, homogenous electro-catalysis and ring-opening copolymerisation catalysis. Reactions that exemplify a two-electron reduction of uranyl (i.e. uranium(VI) to uranium(IV)) are reviewed, along with uranyl complexes that undergo ligand-centred redox to give ligand-based radicals. The state of the literature on hydrocarbon oxidation catalysis is reviewed in the introduction. The development of multinuclear, macrocyclic complexes and the reactivity of dinuclear Pacman complexes are also presented. Chapter 2 reports the synthesis and characterisation of a new set of Schiff-base macrocycles and acyclic dipyrrin ligands. A number of attempted synthetic routes towards incorporating a dipyrrin coordination compartment in a macro-cyclic setting are discussed. Differences in electronic structures between dipyrromethanes and dipyrromethenes are also examined by theoretical and experimental methods. Chapter 3 introduces the coordination chemistry of these new macrocycles with zinc(II), where the isolation of dinuclear and tetranuclear complexes is demonstrated using different zinc(II) precursors. Tetranuclear zinc-alkyl complexes presented here are shown to be resistant to insertion chemistry with small molecules, but readily form zinc-oxo, -hydroxyl and -alkoxide clusters upon protonolysis with water and alcohols. These molecular clusters display reactivity towards CO2: a zinc-hydroxyl complex precipitates ZnCO3 at high temperature; and zinc-alkoxide complexes have been used to catalyse the copolymerisation reaction between CO2 and cyclohexene oxide to form polycarbonates. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis of late-transition-metal complexes of macrocyclic ligands and dipyrrins, and explores the relationship between macrocycle geometry and electronic structure. Their reactivities towards CO2 are assessed here, using cyclic voltammetry to assess the electro-catalytic activity of a number of the complexes. Chapter 5 reports the oxidation chemistry of hydrocarbon substrates catalysed by copper(II) complexes. High-temperature catalysis occurs with bimetallic copper(II) complexes, and this chapter describes how added FeCl3 acts as a co-catalyst, leading to greater catalyst stability and allowing the catalytic reaction to occur at room temperature. A range of analytical methods have been used to deduce the catalytically active species, and chemical kinetic measurements have been used to deduce a possible reaction mechanism. Chapter 6 reports the synthesis of a uranyl(VI) dipyrrin complex and details characterisation of its electronic structure by theoretical and experimental methods. Theoretical modelling has indicated that the observed two-electron reduction of uranium(VI) to uranium(IV) is facilitated by the dipyrrin ligand, representing a novel uranyl reduction mechanism.

[pt] A Doença de Alzheimer (DA) é uma desordem cerebral degenerativa, sendo progressiva e fatal, a qual se caracteriza por disfunções cognitivas e da memória. Uma observação característica na DA é a presença de depósitos fibrilosos insolúveis do polipeptídeo b-amilóide (Ab), que ocorre predominantemente em duas formas, Ab (1-40) e Ab (1-42). Muitas evidências indicam que as interações de Ab com os íons Cu(II) e Zn(II) podem estar relacionadas aos processos que levam à agregação deste peptídeo, já que aqueles foram encontrados nessas placas. Além disso, o cobre, por suas características eletroativas, pode contribuir para a geração de radicais livres, aumentando, desta maneira, o estresse oxidativo. Assim, a prevenção da agregação e a diminuição do estresse oxidativo são consideradas estratégias terapêuticas em potencial para a doença. Assim, destacam-se os compostos atenuantes na interação metal-proteína (MPACs, em inglês), que estão relacionados com a normalização da repartição e da distribuição de biometais, interrompendo as interações anômalas entre os íons metálicos e o peptídeo Ab. Neste trabalho, foram sintetizados dois potenciais MPACs derivados do agente micobactericida isoniazida: um deles com o fragmento 8-hidroxiquinolina (H2L1) e o outro, HL2, estruturalmente relacionado à melatonina. Disto resultam dois ligantes interessantes, capazes de coordenar íons metálicos de importância biológica através de seus átomos doadores N e O. As interações destes compostos com os biometais cobre e zinco foram estudadas no estado sólido pela síntese e caracterização de quatro novos complexos, dois com o íon Cu(II) (complexos 2 e 4) e dois com o íon Zn(II) (complexos 1 e 3). Estudos potenciométricos em solução (meio água/etanol 30/70 porcento v/v) envolvendo ambos os ligantes foram feitos a fim de se determinar as respectivas constantes de protonação, bem como as constantes de formação dos complexos envolvendo os íons em estudo. Realizou-se, para os dois ligantes, uma análise farmacológica in silico, mostrando que eles são atóxicos e que possuem um elevado DrugScore. Experimentos de RMN realizados com H2L1, o mais solúvel dos ligantes, demonstraram que, embora o composto não interaja diretamente com Ab, ele compete efetivamente com este peptídeo pelos íons Cu(II) e Zn(II). Em testes efetuados com ratos Wistar machos, o composto mostrou não ser tóxico em doses de até 200 mg kg-1. Os níveis de GSH (um indicador de estresse oxidativo) e de metalotioneínas no cérebro das cobaias tratadas com o composto são estatisticamente os mesmos daqueles observados nos animais controle (não injetados). Comportamento similar foi observado para os biometais cobre, zinco e ferro. Dessa forma, tais estudos para H2L1, revelaram que ele pode atuar como um potencial MPAC. / [en] Alzheimer s disease (AD) is a progressive and fatal degenerative brain disorder, characterized by cognitive and memory disorders. A characteristic feature of this disease is the presence of insoluble fibrillary deposits of the b-amyloid polypeptide (Ab), which occurs predominantly in two forms, Ab (1-40) and Ab (1-42). Accumulated evidence indicates that Ab interactions with Cu(II) and Zn(II) may be related to the processes that lead to the aggregation of this peptide, since these ions have been found in these plaques. In addition, copper, due to its electroactive characteristics, may contribute to the generation of free radicals, increasing oxidative stress. Thus, the prevention of the peptide aggregation and reduction of oxidative stress are considered potential therapeutic strategies for the disease. In this context, metal-protein interaction attenuating compounds (MPACs) are highlighted, which are related to the normalization of the allocation and distribution of biometals, interrupting the anomalous interactions between metal ions and the Ab peptide. In this study, two potential MPACs derived from the mycobactericidal agent isoniazid were synthesized: one with the 8-hydroxyquinoline (H2L1) fragment and the other, HL2, structurally related to melatonin. This produced two interesting ligands capable of coordinating metal ions of biological importance through their donor atoms N and O. The interactions of these compounds with biometals copper and zinc were studied in solid state by the synthesis and characterization of four new complexes, two with the Cu(II) ion (complexes 2 and 4) and two with the Zn(II) ion (complexes 1 and 3). In-solution potentiometric studies (water/ethanol 30/70 percent v/v medium) involving both ligands were conducted in order to determine their protonation constants, in addition to the formation constants of the complexes involving the ions under study. Pharmacological in silico analyses were performed for the two ligands and demonstrated that both are non toxic and have a high DrugScore. NMR experiments performed with H2L1, the most soluble of the ligands, demonstrated that, although the compound does not interact directly with Ab, it competes effectively with this peptide for Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions. In experiments carried out with male Wistar rats, the compound was shown to be non-toxic in doses up to 200 mg kg-1. GSH (an indicator of oxidative stress) and metallothionein levels in the brains of the animals treated with the compound are statistically the same as those observed in control animals (not injected). Similar behavior was observed for biometals copper, zinc and iron. Thus, these studies to H2L1 revealed that it can act as a potential MPAC.

[pt] Foram sintetizados 16 complexos de cobre(II) coordenados com seis aminoácidos presentes na placa b-amilóide, que está associada à Doença de Alzheimer - ácido aspártico, ácido glutâmico, metionina, glicina, serina e arginina, outros dois aminoácidos também encontrados no cérebro - cisteína e homocisteína, além da L-carnitina e acetil-L-carnitina que vêm sendo utilizados como suplemento alimentar em pacientes com doenças neurodegenerativas. Nosso objetivo foi verificar a afinidade do cobre(II) com estes aminoácidos, uma vez que o envelhecimento provoca aumento no cérebro tanto das concentrações de íons cobre como dos níveis de todos estes aminoácidos (que são consequência de fragmentações peptídicas). Por esta razão, procurou-se trabalhar in vitro com condições próximas ao meio biológico utilizando apenas água deionizada como solvente. Os complexos obtidos foram caracterizados pelas seguintes técnicas: análise elementar (espectrometria de absorção atômica e CHN), condutimetria, análise termogravimétrica, ressonância paramagnética eletrônica, voltametria cíclica e espectroscopia no infravermelho. Foi possível verificar que, exceto a acetil-L-carnitina, todos se comportam como ligantes bidentados e complexam facilmente ao cobre(II). Ácido aspártico, ácido glutâmico, serina, metionina, glicina e arginina se coordenaram através do átomo de oxigênio do grupo carboxilato e do átomo de nitrogênio do grupo amino, cisteína e homocistéina através do átomo de enxofre e do átomo de nitrogênio do grupo amino, L-caritina através do átomo de oxigênio do grupo carboxilato e do átomo de oxigênio alcoólico e acetil-L-carnitina se coordena monodentadamente através do átomo de oxigênio do grupo carboxilato. / [en] Sixteen complexes of copper(II) with six amino acids that are present in the b-amyloid peptide, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease - aspartic acid, glutamic acid, methionine, glycine, serine and arginine -, two amino acids also found in the brain - cysteine and homocysteine -, as well as L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine, which have been used as food supplement in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, were studied. Our aim was to determine the affinity of copper(II) with these amino acids, since aging causes an increase in brain concentrations of copper ions as well as in the level of all of these amino acids, as a consequence of peptide fragmentation. For this reason, we decided to do an in vitro study in similar conditions as the biological environment, using only deionized water as solvent. These compounds were characterized through the following techniques: elementary analysis (atomic absorption spectrometry and CHN), conductimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance, electrochemical analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. It was possible to verify that, except for acetyl-L-carnitine, all amino acids behaved as bidentate ligands. They all form complexes with copper(II) easily. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, methionine, glycine and arginine coordinate through the oxygen atom of the a-carboxylate group and the nitrogen atom of the amine group. Cysteine and homocysteine coordinate through the sulfur atom and the nitrogen atom of the amine group, L-Carnitine coordinates through one oxygen atom of the carboxylate group and one oxygen atom of the alcohol group, and acetyl-L -carnitine coordinates through the oxygen atom of the carboxylate group.

[pt] Este trabalho descreve a síntese e caracterização de quatro complexos de cobre (II) e quatro complexos de zinco (II), com dipeptídeos, no estado sólido. Os dipeptídeos envolvidos foram: glicil-glicina, glicil-valina, metionil-metionina, metionil-glicina e cisteinil-glicina, cujos aminoácidos fazem parte de algumas proteínas envolvidas em processos de neurodegeneração, mais especificamente na doença de Alzheimer. Embora os mecanismos que desencadeiam esta patologia não estejam ainda totalmente esclarecidos, sabe-se que os íons metálicos, como o cobre (II) e o zinco (II), interagem com o peptídeo beta-amilóide. Acredita-se que tais interações favoreçam a formação de agregados protéicos sólidos deste peptídeo, observados nos cérebros de pacientes com essa doença. Dessa forma, a obtenção e o estudo de modelos simples no estado sólido, sintetizados em condições próximas ao meio biológico, podem permitir uma melhor compreensão de possíveis interações de tais metais neste sítio protéico. Os compostos obtidos foram caracterizados utilizando as seguintes técnicas: análise elementar, absorção atômica, espectroscopia de infravermelho, espectroscopia Raman, espectroscopia de ultravioleta-visível, termogravimetria, RPE (para os complexos de cobre) e condutivimetria. Para os complexos de zinco, foram realizados cálculos teóricos mecânico-quânticos para obtenção de parâmetros geométricos e espectros de infravermelho. A análise dos compostos obtidos mostrou que os complexos de cobre e zinco com os dipeptídeos estão coordenados por átomos de oxigênio e nitrogênio. Nos complexos de peptídeos contendo enxofre, a coordenação também ocorre pelo átomo de enxofre (cobre com metionil-metionina e metionil-glicina e zinco com cisteinil-glicina). Os compostos obtidos para ambos os metais na proporção metal-ligante (1:1) mostram comportamento diferente dos estudos em solução e aqueles obtidos na proporção metal-ligante (1:2) mostram comportamento similar a complexos de metais com aminoácidos. / [en] This work describes the synthesis and characterization of copper (II) and zinc (II) complexes, with dipeptides in solid state. The dipeptides involved were: glycyl-glycine, glycyl-valine, methionyl-methionine, methionyl-glycine and cysteinyl-glycine, whose aminoacids take part in some proteins involved in neurodegeneration processes, more specifically in Alzheimer’s disease. Although the mechanisms that trigger this pathology are still not totally clear, it is known that metallic ions, such as copper (II) and zinc (II) interact with the beta-amyloid peptide. It seems that such interactions favor the formation of solid proteic aggregates of this peptide, observed in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, the obtaining and study of simple models in the solid state, synthesized in similar conditions to the biological medium, may allow a better understanding of the possible interactions of such metals in this proteic site. The compounds obtained were characterized using the following techniques: elemental analysis, atomic absorption, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, EPR (for the copper complexes) and conductivimetry. For the zinc complexes, quantum-mechanical theoretical calculations were performed to obtain geometrical parameters and infrared spectra. The analysis of the compounds showed that the copper and zinc complexes with dipeptides are coordinated through oxygen and nitrogen atoms. In complexes of dipeptides containing sulfur, coordination trough the sulfur atom occurs too (copper with methionyl-methionine and methionyl-glycine and zinc with cysteinyl-glycine). The compounds obtained for both metals at the metal-ligand ratio (1:1) behave differently from those studied in solution e those obtained in the metal-ligand ratio (1:2) show similar behavior of metal complexes with aminoacids.

Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2016-06-28T17:52:25Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Melo-MCA_dissertacao.pdf: 6271738 bytes, checksum: ce55245b114aac78286d16fa3cabf5d4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-28T17:52:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Melo-MCA_dissertacao.pdf: 6271738 bytes, checksum: ce55245b114aac78286d16fa3cabf5d4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-12 / CAPES / O Staphylococcus (S.) aureus é responsável por inúmeros casos de infecções em animais e seres humanos. Essa bactéria secreta uma grande variedade de exoproteínas, incluindo quatro hemolisinas: alfa, beta, gama e delta. A atividade hemolítica da alfa-toxina (α-HL) se deve a formação de poros em membranas celulares. A α-HL é um monômero solúvel em água, que se torna mais estável ao se oligomerizar e formar poros heptaméricos transmembranares. Devido sua importância na patogênese bacteriana, essa proteína tem sido alvo de estudos no desenvolvimento de agentes terapêuticos. Sabe-se que os compostos de base de Schiff têm apresentado significativos resultados em testes de atividade biológica, incluindo antibacteriana. Neste contexto, avaliou-se a atividade de complexos de cobre-base de Schiff no bloqueio de poros da α-HL de S. aureus. Simultaneamente, foram realizados estudos conformacionais da δ-toxina em solução aquosa. Experimentos com eritrócitos de coelho expostos a α-HL foram utilizados na seleção dos compostos. Membranas lipídicas planas artificiais com canais individuais de α-HL, em condições de fixação de voltagem, foram utilizados para entender o mecanismo de ação dos compostos. Finalmente, avaliou-se através de docking molecular a interação entre os compostos e o canal de α-HL, visando corroborar o mecanismo de bloqueio. No estudo da δ-toxina, dinâmica molecular foi usada para determinar sua conformação em solução aquosa. Observou-se que os complexos de cobre inibiram parcialmente a atividade hemolítica da α-HL, devido ao bloqueio parcial dos canais desta toxina. O mecanismo molecular desse bloqueio ocorre pela interação dos compostos com a região de constrição do poro. Observou-se ainda que a δ-toxina em solução aquosa apresenta de 5 a 14 resíduos enovelados. Sugere-se que os complexos de cobre são potenciais candidatos a futuros agentes coadjuvantes no tratamento de infecções por S. aureus. / Staphylococcus (S.) aureus is responsible for a great number of infecctions in animals and humans. This bacteria produces several exoproteins and virulence factors, including four hemolysins: alfa, beta, gama and delta. The alfa-toxin (α-HL) hemolytic activity occurs due to the formation of pores in cellular membranes. α-HL is a soluble monomer in water, but becomes more stable when oligomerize and form transmembranar heptameric pores. Considering its importance for bacterial patogenesis, this protein has been target of studies on new antimicrobial agents. For example, base Schiff copper compounds have been observed to show significative results in biological activity assays, including antibacterial. In this context, the present work intended to evaluate the activity of a base Schiff-copper compounds to block the S. aureus α-HL ion channel. The most effective compounds were selected based on the exposition of rabbit erythrocytes to α-HL, and tested against control conditions. The mechanism of action of these compounds were evaluated through single channel experiments in planar lipid bilayrs, through eletrophisiological techniques. Finally, molecular docking studies were employed to confirm the blocking mechanism of such compounds. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulations were used to determine δ-toxin conformation in aqueous solutions. The obtained results indicated that the copper(II) compounds were capable of partially blocking the α-HL hemolytic activity, due to partial blockade of the ionic channels. The molecular mechanis of pore blockade was identified to mainly occur due to the interaction of the compounds to the pore constriction. Additionally, it was observed that δ-toxin in aqueous solution presents from 5 to 14 amino acids showing α-helical content. Based on these results, we suggest that such compound may be further evaluated as a coadjuvante agent for the treatment of staphylococcal infections

Proteinogenic amino acids are the basic structural building units of proteins. Their analysis is important in many fields, especially in medicine. This thesis deals with one of the methods of derivatization of amino acids in order to increase their absorption in the UV - the post-column derivatization using copper (II) oxide. It is quick, robust and easy-to-use method. Following the nowadays trend in the analysis of free amino acids, this thesis is focused on the HILIC mode separation environment.

[pt] Ligantes compartimentais são aqueles possuindo dois ou mais sítios polidentados de coordenação próximos, podendo fornecer um bom reconhecimento seletivo de íons metálicos em suas câmaras adjacentes. Neste contexto, o composto BPMAMFF {3-[N,N-bis(2-piridilmetil)aminometil]-5-metilsalicilaldeído} e o seu análogo HBPAMFF {3-[N,N-(2-piridilmetil)(2-hidroxibenzil)aminometil]-5-metilsalicilaldeído}, são ligantes compartimentais cujas características de reatividade os ressaltam como compostos de interesse para a Química de Materiais, a Nanotecnologia, a Química Bioinorgânica e outras áreas. Neste trabalho, BPMAMFF e HBPAMFF foram sintetizados, assim como seus respectivos derivados oxímicos BPMAMFF-ox e HBPAMFF-ox, visto que a adição do grupamento oxima pode potencializar algumas de suas propriedades. Assim, obteve-se 4 ligantes compartimentais, que foram caracterizados através de seus pontos de fusão, espectroscopia vibracional no IV e RMN de 1H. Além disto, 6 complexos de coordenação, sendo 5 deles inéditos, foram preparados a partir destes ligantes, sendo os complexos de cobre(II) obtidos para todos eles e os de zinco(II) sintetizados apenas para os derivados de BPMA. Todos os compostos de coordenação foram caracterizados no estado sólido através de espectroscopia vibracional no IV, termogravimetria e, quando possível, através de difração de raios X em monocristais. Os complexos diamagnéticos de zinco(II) também foram estudados através de RMN de 1H. Os resultados aqui apresentados mostram que a porção oxímica, diferentemente do esperado ao começo do projeto, não participa da coordenação a esses íons metálicos nas espécies mononucleares, ficando assim disponível para a coordenação de outros centros metálicos. Assim, estes complexos podem servir como blocos construtores na síntese de estruturas supramoleculares e polímeros de coordenação com as mais diversas aplicações. Por fim, a obtenção do complexo inédito [Cu(HBPAMFF)Cl2]·0,25 H2O, no qual observou-se pela primeira vez que o fenol terminal do ligante tripodal HBPAMFF não participa ativamente da coordenação, foi descrita por nós em um artigo publicado na revista Journal of Molecular Structure. / [en] Compartmental ligands are those that have two or more polydentate coordination sites close together , which can provide good recognition of metal ions in their adjacent chambers. In this context, the BPMAMFF {3 N N bis(2 pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl] 5 methylsalicylaldehyde} ligand and its analog ue, namely HBPAMFF {3 N N --(2 pyridylmethyl)(2 hydroxybenzyl)aminomethyl] 5 methylsalicylaldehyde}, are compartmental ligands whose reactivity features highlight them as compou nds of interest for Materials Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Bioinorganic Chemistry and other areas. In this work, BPMAMFF and HBPAMFF were synthesized, as well as their respective oximic derivatives BPMAMFF ox and HBPAMFF ox , since the addition of th is group can potentiate some of their properties. Thus, 4 compartmental ligands were obtained, which were characterized through their melting points, vibrational IR spectroscopy and 1 H NMR. Furthermore , 6 coordination complexes, 5 of them new , were prepared from th ese ligands, being the copper(II) complexes obtained for all of them and the zinc(II) complexes synthesized only for BPMA derivatives. All coordination compounds were characterized in the solid state by vibrational IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and, wh en possible, by X ray diffraction in single crystals. Zinc(II) diamagnetic complexes were also studied by 1 H NMR. The results presented here in show that the oximic moiety , unlike what was expected at the beginning of the project, does not participate in th e coordination of these metal ions in the mononuclear species, thus becoming available for the coordination of other metal centers. Hence , the se complexes can be used as building blocks in the synthesis of supramolecular structures and coordination polymer s with the most diverse applications. Finally, the obtention of the novel complex [Cu( HBPAMFF )Cl 2 ]·0.25 H 2 O, in which it was observed, for the first time, that the terminal phenol of the tripodal ligand HBPAMFF does not actively participate in coordination, was described by us in a p a per published in the Journal of Molecular Structure.

På grund av nya riktlinjer för användning av mässing i kontakt med dricksvatten har nya blyfria mässingslegeringar utvecklats. Det är därför av stort intresse att undersöka deras korrosionsegenskaper, såsom avzinkningshärdighet. Ett accelererat standardtest, SS-EN ISO 6509–1:2014, har använts för att bestämma avzinkningshärdighet hos mässingslegeringar. Eftersom detta standardtest utvecklades för bly-innehållande mässingslegeringar har det ännu inte fastställts huruvida denna metod också kan appliceras för fastställandet av avzinkningshärdigheten hos blyfria mässingslegeringar.  Syftet med detta examensarbete var att fylla denna kunskapslucka. Detta gjordes genom att undersöka hur avzinkningsegenskaperna för tre mässingslegeringar, varav två var blyfria och en bly-innehållande, påverkades genom att ändra standardtestets parametrar. Resultaten jämfördes sedan med deras beteende i kranvatten för att bestämma testresultatens tillförlitlighet. Det visade sig att majoriteten av de erhållna resultaten för de blyfria mässingslegeringarna var i överensstämmelse med de resultat som erhölls för den blyinnehållande mässingen. Slutsatsen som kunde dras var därför att standardtestet kan användas för att bestämma avzinkningshärdighet även av blyfri mässing samt att resultaten visar på samma rangordning gällande deras egenskaper i tappvatten. / Due to new regulations for the use of brass in contact with drinking water, new lead-free brass alloys have been developed. It is therefore of great interest to investigate their corrosion properties in terms of dezincification resistance. An accelerated standard test, SS-EN ISO 6509-1:2014 is used to determine the dezincification resistance of brass alloys. However, as this standard test was developed for leaded brass alloys, it has not yet been established whether this method also is suitable to assess the dezincification resistance of lead-free brass alloys.  This master thesis study aimed to expand this knowledge gap by investigating how the dezincification properties of three different brass alloys, two newly developed lead-free alloys and one lead-containing alloy, were affected by changing the parameters of the standard test. The results were compared with their behaviour in tap water to determine the reliability of the ISO test. Most of the obtained results of the lead-free brass alloys were in accordance with the results obtained for the leaded brass alloy. It could therefore be concluded that the standard test can be used to assess the dezincification resistance of brass alloys and also reflect their ranking at tap water conditions.

På grund av nya riktlinjer för användning av mässing i kontakt med dricksvatten har nya blyfria mässingslegeringar utvecklats. Det är därför av stort intresse att undersöka deras korrosionsegenskaper, såsom avzinkningshärdighet. Ett accelererat standardtest, SS-EN ISO 6509–1:2014, har använts för att bestämma avzinkningshärdighet hos mässingslegeringar. Eftersom detta standardtest utvecklades för bly-innehållande mässingslegeringar har det ännu inte fastställts huruvida denna metod också kan appliceras för fastställandet av avzinkningshärdigheten hos blyfria mässingslegeringar.  Syftet med detta examensarbete var att fylla denna kunskapslucka. Detta gjordes genom att undersöka hur avzinkningsegenskaperna för tre mässingslegeringar, varav två var blyfria och en bly-innehållande, påverkades genom att ändra standardtestets parametrar. Resultaten jämfördes sedan med deras beteende i kranvatten för att bestämma testresultatens tillförlitlighet. Det visade sig att majoriteten av de erhållna resultaten för de blyfria mässingslegeringarna var i överensstämmelse med de resultat som erhölls för den blyinnehållande mässingen. Slutsatsen som kunde dras var därför att standardtestet kan användas för att bestämma avzinkningshärdighet även av blyfri mässing samt att resultaten visar på samma rangordning gällande deras egenskaper i tappvatten. / Due to new regulations for the use of brass in contact with drinking water, new lead-free brass alloys have been developed. It is therefore of great interest to investigate their corrosion properties in terms of dezincification resistance. An accelerated standard test, SS-EN ISO 6509-1:2014 is used to determine the dezincification resistance of brass alloys. However, as this standard test was developed for leaded brass alloys, it has not yet been established whether this method also is suitable to assess the dezincification resistance of lead-free brass alloys.  This master thesis study aimed to expand this knowledge gap by investigating how the dezincification properties of three different brass alloys, two newly developed lead-free alloys and one lead-containing alloy, were affected by changing the parameters of the standard test. The results were compared with their behaviour in tap water to determine the reliability of the ISO test. Most of the obtained results of the lead-free brass alloys were in accordance with the results obtained for the leaded brass alloy. It could therefore be concluded that the standard test can be used to assess the dezincification resistance of brass alloys and also reflect their ranking at tap water conditions.

Copper is one of the essential metal ions for aerobic organisms. Two well known functions of copper in the biological systems are electron transfer and molecular oxygen interaction. Thus, this metal can be found in haemocyanin, an oxygen carrier protein, and superoxide dismutase, an enzyme that involves in electron transfer. In addition, having a positive redox potential allows copper to be involved in redox chemistry. It is the redox properties of copper that are responsible for many important biochemical processes. Although the copper-containing oxidases have been well studied over the years, certain mechanistic details such as reaction intermediates remain to be elucidated. Several research groups have been trying to study this by trying to mimic the native systems, synthesizing bulky organic molecules with copper-binding and oxidative capabilities. However, these model systems are only applicable in organic solvents at low temperatures. In this study, three naturally occurring peptides, amyloid-ß, bacitracin, and histatin 5, have been shown to display the oxidative chemistry when complexed with CuII. A combination of spectroscopic (UV-Vis and NMR) and reactivity was used in studying their metal-binding properties as well as in elucidating their catalytic mechanism.