Eelman, Melanie D.2014-10-2120042004AAINQ89802http://hdl.handle.net/10222/54608In contrast to the toxicity displayed by many heavy metals, especially those in the p-block (e.g. lead, arsenic), bismuth compounds are well known for their therapeutic application in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and have a long history of medicinal use. Although the mechanisms of bioactivity are not understood, the thiophilicity of bismuth has prompted speculation that sulfur-containing biomolecules represent the primary target for pharmaceuticals such as 'colloidal bismuth subcitrate' and 'bismuth subsalicylate', the active ingredients of De-Nol RTM and Pepto-BismolRTM, respectively. However, definitive characterisation of bismuth and other heavy metal complexes involving biomolecules has been elusive.This work establishes the utility of electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) as a characterisation method to identify interactions of heavy metals with small biomolecules and other biorelevant ligands. In addition, the first examples of a bismuth and a lead complex involving amino acids have been isolated and structurally characterised. These observations provide important insight into how heavy metals, bioactive or otherwise, may become incorporated into biological systems.Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dalhousie University (Canada), 2004.Chemistry, Biochemistry.Chemistry, Inorganic.text