O ambiente marinho desponta como uma fonte natural importante devido à sua fantástica diversidade orgânica, que permanece praticamente inexplorada. Abordagens químicas e biológicas de organismos marinhos, atualmente, representam uma área de pesquisa ampla e promissora, visto a constante descoberta de diversos metabólitos com propriedades medicinais variadas, além de um arsenal metabólico praticamente ilimitado. Algas vermelhas, com destaque para a família Rhodomelaceae, são exímias produtoras de metabólitos halogenados aos quais são atribuídos importantes atividades biológicas. Micro-organismos marinhos e/ou endofíticos são apontados como os alvos mais promissores para descoberta de novos fármacos. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho descreve a identificação de metabólitos secundários da macroalga Bostrychia tenella (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta), a qual possui poucos relatos na literatura a respeito de seu metabolismo secundário, bem como o potencial biológico de micro-organismos endofíticos associados a esta espécie. O estudo químico da espécie B. tenella coletada nos costões rochosos da Praia da Fortaleza (Ubatuba-SP) proporcionou a identificação, por meio de análises via CG-EM (fração acetato), de 63 metabólitos dos quais 39 são substâncias apolares de cadeias carbônicas longas (ex. ácidos graxos e ésteres, esteróides, dentre outros) e 24 são metabólitos fenólicos, incluindo 17 halofenóis clorados, bromados e iodados. Destas 24 substâncias, até o presente momento, três são inéditas, nove são inéditas como produtos naturais, quatro são inéditas em algas marinhas e seis são inéditas para o gênero Bostrychia. Adicionalmente, 45 linhagens de micro-organismos endofíticos foram isoladas da alga Bostrychia tenella, das quais 10 foram cultivadas em meio sólido arroz, proporcionando a obtenção de extratos brutos e frações orgânicas. Apesar das frações de B. tenella não terem exibido atividade biológica, extratos e frações dos micro-organismos endofíticos associados a esta espécie apresentaram-se ativos em todos os ensaios realizados: citotoxicidade utilizando células tumorais HL-60, HCT-8 e SF-295, antifúngico utilizando fitopatógenos Cladosporium cladosporioides e C. sphaerospermum, antibacteriano utilizando Staphylococcus aureus e Klebsiella pneumoniae, e inibição da degranulação mastocitária utilizando células RBL-2H3. O presente trabalho contribuiu para aumento do conhecimento sobre o metabolismo secundário da alga Bostrychia tenella e proporcionou a descoberta do potencial biológico de micro-organismos endofíticos associados a esta alga, atribuindo a esta espécie relevância química e microbiológica para o estudo de produtos naturais marinhos. / The marine environment appears as an important natural source due to its fantastic organic diversity, which practically remains unexplored. Chemical and biological approaches concerning marine organism, currently, represent an ample and promising research area, since there are a constant metabolite discovery with a variety of medicinal properties, besides the limitless metabolic armory. Red seaweeds, with distinction for the Rhodomelaceae family, are exempt of halogenated metabolites producers which are attributed important biological activities. Marine and/or endophytic microorganisms are pointed as the most promising targets with respect to discovery of new pharmaceuticals. In this context, the present work describes the secondary metabolites identification from seaweed Bostrychia tenella (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta), as well as the biological potential of associated endophytic microorganisms. The chemical study of B. tenella species collected in the rocky shore of Praia de Fortaleza (Ubatuba-SP) provided the identification, by means of GC-MS analyses (acetate fraction), of 63 metabolites, which 39 consisted of nonpolar substances containing a long carbonic chains (fatty acids, esters, steroids, amongst others) and 24 were phenolic compounds, including 17 chlorinated, bromated and iodized halophenols. Related to these 24 substances, until the present moment, three are unknown, nine are unknown as natural products, four are unknown in seaweeds and six are unknown in the Bostrychia genus. Additionally, 45 endophytic microorganism strains had been isolated from B. tenella, from which 10 were cultivated in solid rice medium, providing several crude extracts and fractions. Although the B. tenella fractions did not show biological potential, extracts and fractions from endophytic microorganism associates to this species presented biological activity in all of evaluated assays: cytotoxicity using tumor cells HL-60, HCT-8 and SF-295, antifungal in Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum, antibacterial using Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and mast cell degranulation inhibition using RBL-2H3 cells. The present work contributed for the secondary metabolism knowledge increase regarding Bostrychia tenella species, and demonstrated the endophytic microorganism biological potential, attributing to this species chemical and microbiological relevance for the marine natural products research.

<p><b>Background and aims:</b> Type 2 diabetes mellitus is connected with elevated glucose levels, which cause impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and degeneration of β-cells. Mechanisms for such glucotoxic effects were explored in the present study.</p><p><b>Materials and methods:</b> INS-1E cells were cultured for 5 days in 5.5, 11, 20 or 27 mM glucose in the presence or absence of AMPK-agonist AICAR. GSIS was determined from INS-1E cells and islets obtained from type 2 diabetes and control donors. Human islets and INS-1E cells were functionally characterized (GSIS) and protein profiled (SELDI-TOF MS). Glucose-induced <i>de novo</i> synthesis of fatty acyls (HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy), fatty acid composition (GC-MS), triglyceride content and specific proteins (Western blotting) were determined in INS-1E cells.</p><p><b>Results:</b> Impaired GSIS was observed from INS-1E cells exposed to chronic hyperglycaemia and islets isolated from type 2 diabetics compared to INS-1E cells cultured at normal glucose levels and control islets, respectively. Several glucose-regulated proteins were found when type 2 diabetes and control islets or mitochondria from INS-1E cells cultured at different glucose concentrations were protein profiled. Glucose induced lipid <i>de novo</i> synthesis of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in specific proportions. Glucose-induced impairment of function and mass was reverted by inclusion of AICAR, which lowered levels of pro-apoptotic protein CHOP but left triglyceride content unaffected.</p><p><b>Conclusions:</b> Impaired GSIS and increased apoptosis observed in β-cells after prolonged exposure to elevated glucose concentrations involved accumulation of lipid species in specific proportions, AMPK-inactivation, ER-stress activation and complex, coordinated changes in expression patterns of mitochondrial and human islet proteins.</p>

<b>Background and aims:</b> Type 2 diabetes mellitus is connected with elevated glucose levels, which cause impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and degeneration of β-cells. Mechanisms for such glucotoxic effects were explored in the present study. <b>Materials and methods:</b> INS-1E cells were cultured for 5 days in 5.5, 11, 20 or 27 mM glucose in the presence or absence of AMPK-agonist AICAR. GSIS was determined from INS-1E cells and islets obtained from type 2 diabetes and control donors. Human islets and INS-1E cells were functionally characterized (GSIS) and protein profiled (SELDI-TOF MS). Glucose-induced de novo synthesis of fatty acyls (HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy), fatty acid composition (GC-MS), triglyceride content and specific proteins (Western blotting) were determined in INS-1E cells. <b>Results:</b> Impaired GSIS was observed from INS-1E cells exposed to chronic hyperglycaemia and islets isolated from type 2 diabetics compared to INS-1E cells cultured at normal glucose levels and control islets, respectively. Several glucose-regulated proteins were found when type 2 diabetes and control islets or mitochondria from INS-1E cells cultured at different glucose concentrations were protein profiled. Glucose induced lipid de novo synthesis of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in specific proportions. Glucose-induced impairment of function and mass was reverted by inclusion of AICAR, which lowered levels of pro-apoptotic protein CHOP but left triglyceride content unaffected. <b>Conclusions:</b> Impaired GSIS and increased apoptosis observed in β-cells after prolonged exposure to elevated glucose concentrations involved accumulation of lipid species in specific proportions, AMPK-inactivation, ER-stress activation and complex, coordinated changes in expression patterns of mitochondrial and human islet proteins.

The work presented in this thesis concerns the development and evaluation of new methods of sampling and analysis of organic pollutants in the indoor and outdoor environment. In Paper I, the development of a new method was reported for the determination of the brominated flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in air using sampling with glass fiber filter and polyurethane foam (PUF), ultrasonic solvent extraction and liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS). The MS fragmentation mechanism of TBBPA was thoroughly investigated and different acquisition modes were evaluated to achieve the most sensitive and selective detection. In Papers II and III, the potential use of Empore SPE membranes was evaluated for air sampling of volatile, semi-volatile and particle-associated organic compounds. Breakthrough studies conducted for 24h at air flows of 10- 20 L/min showed that the SPE membranes efficiently retains volatile and semi-volatile organophosphate esters and particles &gt;10 nm. Effort was invested in the development of fast and environmental friendly methods, with low cost, for sample clean up and analysis. In Paper II, the sample preparation technique was dynamic solvent extraction with methanol coupled to LC-ESI/MS. The total run time per sample, including both extraction and separation, was less than 34 min, consuming only 1.6mL methanol. In Paper III, efficiency of selective extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from particulate matter sampled with Empore SPE membranes, using dynamic subcritical water extraction (DSWE) was investigated. Acceptable recoveries of the investigated compounds from reference material (SRM 1649a) were achieved. In Paper IV, the application of dynamic solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) air sampling was evaluated using, gas chromatography/positive ion chemical ionisation (GC/PICI) and tandem-MS detection for the determination of organophosphate esters in work environment.

La 3,4-metilendioximetamfetamina (MDMA, èxtasi) és una droga de síntesi que es consumeix entre els joves de forma recreativa. S'ha postulat que la 3,4-dihidroximetamfetamina (HHMA), metabòlit que es forma a partir de l'O-demetilenació de la MDMA a través majoritàriament de l'isoenzim CYP2D6, podria tenir un paper important en el desenvolupament de la neurotoxicitat atribuïda a la MDMA. Així, un dels objectius de la tesi ha estat establir quin paper juga i quina importància té, des d'un punt de vista quantitatiu, aquest metabòlit HHMA en el metabolisme global de la MDMA in vivo. Per altra banda, el CYP2D6 és un enzim polimòrfic, i potencialment els subjectes metabolitzadors lents per aquesta acitivitat enzimàtica podrien tenir un risc més alt de patir toxicitat aguda. La MDMA es consumeix sovint concomitantment amb inhibidors selectius de la recaptació de serotonina (SSRI). Alguns SSRI, com la paroxetina i la fluoxetina, són inhibidors del CYP2D6 i es pot preveure una interacció metabòlica entre aquests tipus de substàncies. Mitjançant un assaig clínic (aleatori, doble cec, creuat i controlat amb placebo) en humans, s'ha estudiat la rellevància de la inhibició de l'activitat del CYP2D6, la seva contribució en el metabolisme de la MDMA i els efectes farmacològics que resulten de la co-administració de la MDMA i la paroxetina.Han estat determinades les concentracions plasmàtiques i urinàries de la MDMA i dels metabòlits més importants de la MDMA, així com les concentracions plasmàtiques de paroxetina juntament amb el seu metabòlit principal.Dels resultats obtinguts, la tesi conclou que l'HHMA és un metabòlit rellevant en la disposició metabòlica de la MDMA. L'estudi d'interacció mostra que la MDMA veu reduït el seu metabolisme oxidatiu al voltant d'un 30% i que ambdós compostos mostren una interacció metabòlica. El CYP2D6 podria contribuir in vivo en l'O-demetilenació de la MDMA en un 30%. / 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a synthetic amphetamine derivative misused among youths for recreational purposes. It has been postulated that 3,4-dihydroxymethamphetamine (HHMA), a metabolite resulting from the O-demethylenation of MDMA through CYP2D6 may play a role in the development of the neurotoxicity. Thus, one of the major aims of the thesis was to establish HHMA relevance, from a quantitative point of view, in MDMA metabolism. Moreover, CYP2D6 is a polymorphic enzyme and the participation of CYP2D6 in the oxidative metabolism of MDMA may suggest an increased risk for acute toxicity in poor metabolizers for this enzymatic activity. MDMA is sometimes consumed concomitantly with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Some SSRI are potent CYP2D6 inhibitors such as paroxetine or fluoxetine and a metabolic interaction between these drugs and MDMA could be expected. Thus, interaction studies of MDMA with SSRI may be an in vivo approach to evaluate the contribution of CYP2D6 on MDMA disposition and the effects of the co-administration of both compounds. The major objective was to assess the contribution of CYP2D6 to MDMA disposition using paroxetine as a metabolic probe inhibitor. It was carried out a clinical trial in humans. The study was randomized, double blind, crossover, and controlled with placebo. Plasma concentration-time profiles and urinary recoveries of MDMA and main metabolites including HHMA were obtained. Paroxetine and its main metabolite (hydroxy-methoxy-paroxetine) plasma concentrations were also determined. From the results obtained, it is conclude that HHMA is a relevant metabolite on MDMA disposition in humans. The interaction study shows a 30% reduction of MDMA metabolic disposition and both MDMA and paroxetine show a pharmacodynamic interaction. It is estimated that CYP2D6 may accounts for a 30% of MDMA O-demethylenation in humans.

La MDMA és cap de sèrie dels entactògens. El seu consum provoca toxicitat aguda i neurodegeneració a mig/llarg termini del sistema serotoninèrgic. Es postula que la bioactivació metabòlica podria ser responsable del desenvolupament de neurotoxicitat.La MDMA té un centre estereogènic. Es consumeix com a racemat, però els enantiòmers tenen perfils farmacològics diferenciats. A més, la MDMA té una depuració metabòlica enantioselectiva i autoinhibible (CYP2D6). Aquesta tesi presenta l'enantioselectivitat de la depuració metabòlica de la MDMA en consumidors recreatius participants d'un assaig clínic (dosi: 100 mg).Es sintetitzà material de referència i es desenvolupà metodologia per a l'anàlisi enantioselectiu i diastereoselectiu dels compostos.S'estudià l'enantioselectivitat en el metabolisme fins a 48h post-administració, obtenint-se raons (R)-MDMA/(S)-MDMA>1 i en augment amb el temps. Les raons del metabòlits majoritaris foren pràcticament constants i properes a 1, possiblement degut a la inhibició metabòlica del CYP2D6 i a la participació d'altres enzims no enantioselectius. / La MDMA es la cabeza de serie de los entactógenos. Su consumo provoca toxicidad aguda y neurodegeneración serotonérgica a medio/corto plazo. Se postula que una bioactivación metabólica podría ser responsable del desarrollo de neurotoxicidad.La MDMA tiene un centro estereogénico. Se consume como racemato, pero los enantiómeros tienen perfiles farmacológicos diferenciados. Además, presenta depuración metabólica enantioselectiva y autoinhibible (CYP2D6).Esta tesis presenta la enantioselectividad de la depuración metabólica de la MDMA en consumidores recreativos participantes de un ensayo clínico (dosis: 100 mg).Se sintetizó material de referencia y se desarrolló metodología para el análisis enantioselectivo y diastereoselectivo de los compuestos.Se estudió la enantioselectividad en el metabolismo hasta 48h post-administración, obteniéndose relaciones (R)-MDMA/(S)-MDMA>1 y en aumento con el tiempo. Las relaciones de los metabolitos mayoritarios fueron prácticamente constantes y cercanas a 1, posiblemente debido a la inhibición metabólica del CYP2D6 y a la participación de otros enzimas no enantioselectivos. / MDMA is the head of entactogenic compounds. Its consumption causes acute toxicity and mid/long term serotonergic neurodegeneration. It is postulated that a metabolic bioactivation may be responsible for development of neurotoxicity.MDMA has a stereogenic center. It is consumed as a racemate, but its enantiomers have different pharmacological profiles. Also, MDMA presents an enantioselective and self-inhibited metabolic disposition (CYP2D6).The present thesis shows data about enantioselective metabolic disposition of MDMA in recreative consumers that participated in a clinical trial (dose: 100 mg).It was synthesised reference material and it was developed methodology for both enantioselective and diastereoselective analysis MDMA and its main metabolites.It was studied the enantioselectivity in the metabolism after 48h post-administration. (R)-MDMA/(S)-MDMA ratios were >1 and increasing over time. Major metabolites ratios were practically constant and close to 1, possibly because of the metabolic inhibition of CYP2D6 and the role of other non-enantioselective enzymes.

Characterization and Source Apportionment of Ambient PM2.5 in Atlanta, Georgia: On-Road Emission, Biomass Burning and SOA Impact Bo Yan 260 Pages Directed by Drs. Armistead G. Russell and Mei Zheng Various airborne PM2.5 samples were collected in the metropolitan Atlanta and surrounding areas, which are directly impacted or dominated by on-road mobile and other typical urban emissions, regional transport sources, prescribed burning plumes, wildfire plumes, as well as secondary sources with anthropogenic and biogenic nature in origin. Detailed PM2.5 chemical speciation was conducted including over one hundred of GC/MS-quantified organic compounds, organic carbon (OC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), elemental carbon (EC), ionic species, and tens of trace metals. Day-night, seasonal and spatial variations of PM2.5 characterization were also studied. Contributions of PM2.5 major sources were identified quantitatively through the receptor source apportionment models. These modeling results, especially on-road mobile source contributions and secondary organic carbon (SOC) were assessed by multiple approaches. Furthermore, new season- and location-specific source profiles were developed in this research to reflect real-world and representative local emission characterizations of on-road mobile sources, aged prescribed burning plumes, and wildfire plumes. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA), a major component of PM2.5 in the summer, was also explored for sources and contributions.

Adaptation to environmental changes is important for the survival of living organisms. Under extreme abiotic conditions, organic molecules (such as lipids, proteins and nucleic acids) are prone to damage. Under these conditions stress response mechanisms are activated, either to prevent the source of damage or to promote the rapid turnover of damaged molecules. Like all photoautotrophic organisms, cyanobacteria are sensitive to high light intensity and oxidative stress, which induces damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. My thesis is divided in two subjects related to particular stress responses in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: 1) the role of Deg/HtrA proteases and 2) investigations on the small CAB-like proteins. Deg/HtrA proteases are ATP-independent serine endopeptidases with a characteristic C-terminal PDZ domain. These proteases are largely dispersed among living organisms, with many different functions, mostly involved in protein quality control. The genome of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 contains three genes coding for Deg/HtrA proteases: HtrA, HhoA and HhoB. These proteases are essential for survival under high light and heat stress, and may overlap in their functions. During my Ph.D. studies I focused on the identification of the precise localization of the Deg/HtrA proteases in the cyanobacterial cell, analyzed the biochemical properties of recombinant Synechocystis Deg/HtrA proteases in vitro and adopted proteomic and metabolomic approaches to study the physiological importance of these proteases. My data show that Deg/HtrA proteases are not only important in stress response mechanisms under adverse conditions, but are also involved in the stabilization of important physiological processes, such as polysaccharides biosynthesis and peptidoglycan turnover. The small CAB-like proteins (SCPs) belong to the light harvesting-like family of stress induced proteins and are thought to be involved in the photoprotection of the photosynthetic apparatus. Five small CAB-like proteins where identified in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (ScpA-E). In my studies I identified another relative to the SCPs, LilA, which I found to be co-transcribed with ScpD. I also focused on the subcellular localization and identification of potential interaction partners of the SCPs.

Ce mémoire décrit la synthèse, la caractérisation spectroscopique et l’étude de la réactivité catalytique d’une nouvelle série de complexes pinceurs de Ni(II) formés à partir du ligand POCOPPh (P,C,P-2,6-{Ph2PO}2C6H4), très peu étudié dans le cas du nickel. Les études décrites dans ce mémoire examinent l’effet des substituants des phosphines sur les propriétés spectroscopiques et électrochimiques ainsi que les activités catalytiques. La synthèse du ligand a été améliorée par rapport à la procédure connue dans la littérature en diminuant le temps de réaction à 30 min et la température jusqu'à température ambiante. Les composés pinceur (P,C,P-2,6-{Ph2PO}2C6H3)NiX ont été obtenus avec des rendements variant entre 60% et 88%. Le premier complexe a été synthétisé en faisant réagir le précurseur NiBr2(NCCH3)x avec le ligand POCOPPh pour donner (POCOPPh)NiBr. Ce dernier réagit par la suite avec les sels d’argent et de potassium pour donner 4 nouveaux complexes soient : (POCOPPh)NiCN, (POCOPPh)NiOTf, (POCOPPh)NiOAc et (POCOPPh)NiONO2 (OTf = triflate et OAc = acetate). Vu la réactivité limitée du dérivé bromure, le dérivé (POCOPPh)NiOTf a été utilisé pour la préparation du composé (POCOPPh)NiCCPh. Le dérivé Ni-OTf a été utilisé également pour la synthèse des complexes (POCOPPh)NiR qui ont été détectés par RMN. Ces complexes (POCOPPh)NiR ont montré une stabilité trop faible et donnent des nouveaux complexes de type (POCOPPh)NiX en échangeant l’halogène avec le Mg ou de type (POCOPPh)NiOH en s’hydrolysant. Les espèces cationiques [(POCOPPh)NiNCR][OTf] (R= Me, CHCH2, CHCHMe, C(Me)CH2, NCCH2CH2N(Ph)H) ont été obtenues facilement et avec des bon rendements à partir du (POCOPPh)NiOTf. Tous les composés obtenus ont été caractérisés par la spectroscopie RMN (1H, 13C{1H}, 31P{1H}, 19F{1H}), la spectroscopie IR et la spectroscopie UV-vis. L’analyse élémentaire et l’analyse par la diffraction des rayons X, dont le but est de résoudre la structure à l’état solide, ont été utilisées pour la plupart des complexes. Des études de voltampérométrie cyclique ont été menées pour déterminer la densité électronique des centres métalliques et l’effet des phosphines sur cette propriété électrochimique. Dans le but de déterminer l’effet des substituants des phosphines sur l’activité catalytique des complexes, nous avons évalué les réactivités catalytiques des deux complexes (POCOPPh)NiOTf et (POCOPi-Pr)NiOTf dans la réaction d’hydroamination des oléfines activés et plus spécifiquement l’acrylonitrile. Après optimisation des conditions expérimentales, on a constaté que la réactivité des deux composés sont similaires mais une grande différence apparaît après l’ajout des additifs. En effet, le complexe (POCOPi-Pr)NiOTf donne une bonne activité catalytique en présence de la triéthylamine, tandis que cette activité diminue considérablement en présence d’eau, contrairement au complexe (POCOPPh)NiOTf qui est plus actif en présence d’eau. Dans le cas du complexe (POCOPPh)NiOTf, on a pu montrer que la base se coordonne au nickel dans le produit formé après la réaction d’hydroamination, ce qui diminue l’activité de ce complexe dans certains cas. Également on a exploré la réaction de l’addition du lien O-H sur l’acrylonitrile, et étonnamment le complexe (POCOPPh)NiOTf est beaucoup plus actif que son homologue (POCOPi-Pr)NiOTf dans le cas des alcools aromatiques. Par contre, les alcools aliphatiques restent un défi majeur pour ce genre de complexe. Le mécanisme de cette réaction qui a été proposé montre que l’alcoolyse passe par les deux intermédiaires (POCOPPh)NiOAr et [(POCOPPh)NiOAr][HOAr] mais l’isolation de ces intermédiaires observés par RMN semble être difficile. / This thesis describes the synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and the catalytic activities of a new family of pincer complexes of Ni (II) starting from the ligand POCOPPh (P,C,P-2,6-{Ph2PO}2C6H4) for which very few nickel complexes have been reported previsouly. We discuss the influence of P-substituents on the spectroscopic, electrochemical and catalytic activities of these complexes. The synthesis of POCOPPh has been improved comparatively to the procedure reported in the literature by reducing the reaction time to 30 minutes and the temperature to room temperature. The complex (P,C,P-2,6-{Ph2PO}2C6H3)NiBr was obtained with 88% yield by reacting the precursor NiBr2(NCCH3)x with POCOPPh . This complex was then reacted with various silver and potassium salts to give the following complexes (POCOPPh)NiCN, (POCOPPh)NiOTf, (POCOPPh)NiOAc and (POCOPPh)NiONO2 (OTf = triflate et OAc = acetate). The limited reactivity of the bromo derivative led us to use (POCOPPh)NiOTf for the preparation of some of the desired derivatives, such as (POCOPPh)NiCCPh. Attempts to prepare the desired alkyl derivatives (POCOPPh)NiR were not successful, but we were able to detect these derivatives using NMR. The thermal instability of (POCOPPh)NiR led to formation of new (POCOPPh)NiX complexes by halogen exchange with MgX2 or (POCOPPh)NiOH by hydrolysis. The cationic species [(POCOPPh)NiNCR][OTf] (R = Me, CHCH2, CHCHMe, C(Me)CH2, NCCH2CH2N(Ph)H) also were obtained easily from the (POCOPPh)NiOTf with good yields. All these complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C{1H} 31P{1H}, 19F{1H}), IR spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. For most complexes analysis by X-ray diffraction allowed us to establish their solid state structures. A few studies by cyclic voltammetry have been done to determine the electronic density of the metal center and the P-substituent influence on this characteristic. In order to investigate the effect of phosphine substituents on the catalytic activities of this type of complexes, catalytic studies were undertaken with the following two complexes (POCOPPh)NiOTf and (POCOPi-Pr)NiOTf in hydroamination of activated olefins specifically acrylonitrile. After optimization of experimental conditions, it was found that both complexes have similar activities but what makes a huge difference is the use of additives. Indeed, (POCOPi-Pr)NiOTf showed good catalytic activity in the presence of triethylamine as base but this activity decreased significantly in the presence of water. The opposite was observed with (POCOPPh)NiOTf complex: it was shown that triethylamine coordinates to the nickel center in this complex and hence reduces its activity in some cases. We Also explored other reactions such as the addition of the O-H bond in aromatic alcohols to acrylonitrile, and it was surprising that (POCOPPh)NiOTf is much more active than its homologous (POCOPi-Pr)-NiOTf. However aliphatic alcohols remain a major challenge for this kind of complex. Mechanistic studies suggest that this reaction passes through the following intermediates (POCOPPh)NiOAr and [(POCOPPh)NiOAr][HOAr]. These species were observed by NMR but not isolated.

Natural plant growth regulators (phytohormones) are a group of organic compounds which, in very small amounts, act as regulators of physiological processes in plants.Methods were developed for the analysis of phytohormones in samples from Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris (L.) Karst»). Identification of abscisic acid, 3-indoleacetic acid, gibbe-rellin Ag and the conjugate N-(3-indoleacetyl)aspartic acid was performed by GC-MS as their methyl esters. A quantitative determination of abscisic acid was made by GC-ECD and this method was also applied to anther samples of Anemone canadensis. 3-Indole-acetic acid and N-(3-indoleacetyl)aspartic acid were quantified by reversed-phase HPLC and spectrofluorimetric detection. Dichlorophene, used as a growth regulator in containerized seedlings of pine and spruce, was analysed by GC-MID in peat and paper. / digitalisering@umu