This dissertation describes a general synthetic platform for segmented polymers that have main-chain reversible linkages based on cyclopentadiene-maleimide Diels-Alder chemistry. Research in the area of thermally reversible (self-healing) polymers has been an ever-expanding area of interest in the current scientific literature. However most of the emphasis has been on systems containing furan-maleimide linkages. While inexpensive and synthetically accessible, furan chemistry is mostly limited to crosslinked and hyperbranched architectures due to its relatively weak binding with maleimides at suitable propagation temperatures. Following a general review of the literature in this area (Chapter 1) the first stage of our research (Chapter 2) entails the synthesis of 2-substituted hydroquinones, which are needed as monomers in the later stages. The novelty of our hydroquinone synthesis stems from the use of allylic and other alkenyl ethers as the source of the ring substituent, and from the utilization of catalytic hydroboration to improve atom-efficiency. We showed that hydroquinones with widely varying functionality can be prepared efficiently by our method; these findings were published in the journal Tetrahedron in 2018. The second stage (Chapter 3) involves the use of the new hydroquinones in step-growth syntheses of hydroquinone-terminated telechelic and chain-extension of these telomers via Diels-Alder chemistry to form segmented polymers having thermally reversible linkages. The novelty of our approach rests with the use of cyclopentadiene-maleimide chemistry for the linkages, while the overall physical properties such as the glass transition temperature were established by using well-defined aromatic polymers — poly(ether ether ketones) or PEEK and poly(aryl ether sulfones) or PAES — as segments. This approach represents an important departure from earlier work in our group in which reversible linkages were present in every repeat unit of a step-growth Diels-Alder polymer that showed thermal reversibility in solution but not in the bulk, owing to glass transition temperatures that were too high. Using scratch-healing and mechanical (tensile) tests, we show that our new segmented polymers exhibit self-healing characteristics that are competitive with or superior to previously reported systems based on different Diels-Alder chemistry. The third stage (Chapter 4) aims to explore new application areas for some of the more novel functionalized hydroquinones reported in Chapter 2. First we developed an efficient synthesis of a PAES derivative bearing 5-phenoxypentyl groups on the hydroquinone moiety. Then we showed that the 5-phenoxy group can be cleanly cleaved, post-polymerization, to afford a PAES having 5-bromopentyl substituents. The promise of our method rests with the potential of the pendant electrophiles to undergo reactions with nucleophilic reagents to post-modify these polymers further. As proof of concept, we showed that substitution of the pendant bromides with furfuryloxy groups enabled thermally reversible crosslinking with a bis-maleimide reagent to form a polymeric material that demonstrates partial scratch healing. Finally we are exploring the synthesis of new ion-containing polymers by substituting the pendant bromides with tertiary amines. / PHD / This dissertation describes a new synthetic approach to polymeric materials that can heal themselves (for example, repair small cracks that may have formed due to stress or aging) simply by heating the damaged area. Our approach uses a thermally reversible chemical reaction (called the Diels-Alder reaction) to connect several shorter polymer segments into longer chains. Upon heating, the segments can come apart, diffuse into and through the damaged area, and then rejoin. The first chapter is a review of background in the published literature as well as previous not-yet-published work in our laboratory. The second chapter describes the creation of new building-block molecules (monomers) that will help control the temperature range necessary to induce self-healing after incorporation into the polymer segments. The third chapter details the process of forming the segments, the incorporation of self-healing functionalities on the ends of the segments, the joining of the segments into longer polymeric chains, and the testing of all of the physical properties of these new materials, including their self-healing capabilities. The fourth chapter represents a preliminary study of a new method of preparing ion-containing polymers. The latter materials have potential use in various membrane technologies including fuel cell devices for the harnessing of renewable energy.

No

Yes / We have set out an equation for partition of 87 neutral molecules from water to o-nitrophenyl octyl ether, NPOE, an equation for partition of the 87 neutral molecules and 21 ionic species from water to NPOE, and an equation for partition of 87 neutral molecules from the gas phase to NPOE. Comparison with equations for partition into other solvents shows that, as regards partition of neutral (nonelectrolyte) compounds, NPOE would be a good model for 1,2-dichloroethane and for nitrobenzene. In terms of partition of ions and ionic species, NPOE is quite similar to 1,2-dichloroethane and not far away from other aprotic solvents such as nitrobenzene.

Dendrimers are hyperbranched macromolecules, with branches-upon-branches architectures, precise constitutions and molecular weights of several kiloDaltons (Figure 1). The dendritic structure remains to be an influential feature in the developments of dendrimer chemistry at large. Organometallic catalysis forms an active area, wherein the dendrimers find a defined importance. A number of dendrimer types have been utilized to study organometallic catalysis that combine the dendritic architectural principles. Chapter 1 of the Thesis summarizes the advances in the dendrimer-mediated catalyses, apart from an overview of the methods adopted to synthesize dendrimers. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of newer types of larger generation poly(propyl ether imine) (PETIM) dendrimers. The molecular structure of a sixth generation PETIM dendrimer is shown in Figure 2. The PETIM series of dendrimers are synthesized by iterative synthetic cycles of two reductions and two Michael addition reactions. Modifications of the synthetic methods were identified, so as to facilitate the synthesis and purification of the higher generation dendrimers. Formation of the PETIM dendrimers, possessing a tertiary amine as the branch juncture and ether as the linker component, is assessed systematically by routine analytical techniques. The peripheries of these dendrimers possess either alcohols or amines or carboxylic acids or esters or nitriles, thereby opening up possibilities for varied studies. Architecturally-driven effects are searched constantly while integrating dendrimers in wide ranging studies. With knowledge that un-functionalized PAMAM and PPI dendrimers show fluorescence properties, we tested the PETIM dendrimers for their luminescence property. The photophysical properties of PETIM dendrimers presenting esters, alcohols, acid salts, nitriles and amines at their peripheries were studied. The anomalous fluorescence arising from alcohol terminated PETIM dendrimers (Figure 3) was established through a series of experiments. Various experimental parameters including pH, viscosity of the solvents, aging, temperature and concentration were used to assess the photochemical properties of the PETIM dendrimers. It was observed that generations 1 to 5 absorbed in the region of 260-340 nm, in MeOH and in aqueous solutions. Excitation of the OH-terminated dendrimer solutions at 330 nm led to an emission at ~390 nm (Figure 4). Dendrimers presenting esters, acid salts and amines at their peripheries also exhibited a similar excitation and emission wavelengths. An increase in the fluorescence intensity was observed at low pH and with more viscous solvents. Lifetime measurements showed at least two species (~2.5 and ~7.0 ns) were responsible for the emission. The quenching of the fluorescence originating from the PETIM dendrimers by inorganic anions was also established in the present study. The periodate, persulfate, perchlorate and nitrite anions quenched the fluorescence efficiently among several anions tested. An ‘oxygen-interacted moiety’, in addition to altered hydrogen bonding properties of the dendrimers, was presumed contribute to the anomalous fluorescence behavior. Chapter 3 of the Thesis elaborates photophysical studies of several PETIM dendrimers. Incorporation of catalytically active moieties at the peripheries of dendrimers was identified as an important avenue, in order to explore the effect of the dendritic architectures on the catalytic activities of chosen catalytic moieties. In order to assess the effect of the dendritic scaffold, in relation to both numbers and locations of the catalytic units, an effort was undertaken to study the catalytic activities of catalytic units, that are present in varying numbers within one generation. Partial and full phosphine-metal complex substituted three generations of dendritic catalysts were synthesized, by using a selective alkylation as a key step. The number of the primary amine groups led to define the number of phosphine groups at the peripheries. The primary amine groups were, in turn, prepared by a Michael addition of acrylonitrile and hydroxyl groups, followed by a reduction of the nitrile moieties to the corresponding amines. The first and the second generation PETIM dendrimers utilized in this study present up to four and eight hydroxyl groups at their peripheries. A partial etherification was exercised in order to mask few hydroxyl groups, useful to prepare the partially substituted phosphine groups. Subsequent Michael addition of acrylonitrile with remaining hydroxyl groups, to afford the nitrile terminated dendrimers, and a metal-mediated reduction of the nitrile to amine led to the required number of amine functionalized dendrimers. Functionalization of the peripheries with alkyldiphenyl phosphine moieties was conducted through a Mannich reaction of the amines with formaldehyde and diphenyl phosphine. The subsequent metal complexation with Pd(COD)Cl2 afforded a series of phosphine-Pd(II) complexes, for the zero, first and second generation PETIM dendrimers. Figure 5 shows the molecular structures of a partially and a fully substituted second generation dendrimer. Catalytic activities of the dendrimer-Pd(II) complexes were assessed in both Heck and Suzuki coupling reactions. A C-C bond forming reactions were studied, with the series of dendritic-Pd(II) catalysts, using Cs2CO3 as a base and at 40 oC. In an overall observation, it was found that an individual catalytic site showed a considerable increase in the catalytic activity when it was present in multiple numbers than as a single unit within the same generation (Figure 6). Figure 6. Bar diagrams of (a) Heck reaction and (b) Suzuki reaction, employing the dendritic catalysts 1 - 11. The Heck coupling reaction involved tert-butyl acrylate and iodobenzene, and the Suzuki coupling reaction involved phenyl boronic acid and iodobenzene. The observations revealed that: (i) the higher generation dendritic catalysts exhibited higher catalytic activities per catalytic site and (ii) the dendritic scaffold has a role in enhancing the activities of the individual catalytic sites. The catalysis study identified the catalytic activities that occurred when a series of catalysts within a given dendrimer generation was used. Such a study is hitherto unknown and the observations of this study address some of the pertinent queries relating to the efficiencies of multivalent dendritic catalysts. Chapter 4 of the Thesis describes the synthesis and characterization of series of organometallic PETIM dendrimer and studies of their catalytic activities. Studies on solid-supported catalysis present a significant importance in heterogeneous organometallic catalysis. Silica is a prominently utilized heterogeneous metal catalyst support. Functionalization of the solid supports with suitable chelating ligands is emerging as a viable strategy to circumvent not only the pertinent metal catalyst deterioration and leaching limitations, but also to stabilize the metal particles and to adjust their catalytic efficiencies. In exploring heterogeneous organometallic catalysis, functionalization of silica with a first generation phosphinated dendritic amine was undertaken. The synthetic scheme adopted to synthesize dendrimer functionalized silica is shown in Scheme 1. The reaction of the chloropropylated silica 4 with amine 3 was conducted in CHCl3. Complexation of the functionalized silica 5 with Pd(COD)Cl2 led to isolation of Pd(II)- impregnated silica. Scheme 1. Preparation of Pd nanoparticles stabilized by functionalized silica. It was anticipated that the ratio of phosphine to Pd(II) would be 1:0.5, resulting from a bidendate binding of the phosphine ligand to Pd metal. The observed ICP-OES result indicated that all phosphine ligands did not chelate the metal. With the desire to obtain the metal nanoparticles, the metal complex was subjected to a reduction, which was performed by conditioning 5-Pd(II) complex in EtOH. The Pd metal nanoparticle thus formed was characterized by physical methods, and the spherical nanoparticles were found to have >85 % size distribution between 2-4 nm (Figure 7). Analyses of the Pd(0) impregnated in dendrimer functionalized silica were performed using NMR, XPS spectroscopies, elemental analysis and microscopies. Figure 7. Transmission electron micrograph and histogram of 6, obtained after treatment with EtOH. The Pd-nanoparticle stabilized silica was used in the hydrogenation of several α, β-unsaturated olefins. The catalyst recycling experiments were conducted more than 10 times, and no loss in the catalytic activities were observed. Chapter 5 describes the functionalization of the silica support with diphenylphosphinomethyl-derivatized dendritic amine, palladium nanoparticle formation and the catalysis studies. Overall, the Thesis establishes the synthesis of larger generation PETIM dendrimers, studies of their anomalous fluorescence behavior, organometallic catalysis in solution, as well as, in heterogeneous conditions, pertaining to the C-C bond forming reactions and hydrogenation reactions. (For figure, graph and structural formula pl see the pdf file)

Les N-tert-butanesulfinamides, des auxiliaires chiraux développés par Ellman il y a une vingtaine d’années, sont à l’heure actuelle de plus en plus sollicités pour la préparation d’amines chirales fonctionnalisées, et ce, du fait de la disponibilité des deux énantiomères à faible coût et de leurs conditions de déprotection faciles à mettre en œuvre. Cependant, leur utilisation dans le cadre de la synthèse de dérivés trifluorométhylés quaternaires à partir des N-tert-butanesulfinylalkyl- ou arylcétimines correspondantes, connues pour leur faible hydrostabilité, reste à ce jour très limitée. Les éthers d’hémiaminals trifluorométhylés dérivés de l’auxiliaire d’Ellman constituent des analogues stables de ces cétimines. Ils permettent de générer in situ la cétimine correspondante, qui peut subir l’addition de l’espèce nucléophile présente. Ce manuscrit relate les différentes réactions étudiées sur ces éthers d’hémiaminals, donnant ainsi accès à des synthons azotés α-trifluorométhylés quaternaires de façon énantiopure : d’une part, les amines homoallyliques obtenues par l’addition d’allylalanes, qui, après quelques étapes, permettent de fournir les azétidines trifluorométhylées correspondantes, et d’autre part, les β3,3-aminoacides trifluorométhylés, préparés via une réaction de Reformatsky hautement diastéréosélective. Les acides β-aminés ainsi préparés ont été réinvestis dans des couplages peptidiques en solution pour la préparation d’une gamme d’α/β- et de β-di- et tripeptides, sur lesquels des études conformationnelles préliminaires ont été menées à l’état solide et/ou en solution.Mots-clés : Auxiliaire d’Ellman, Addition nucléophile, Couplage peptidique en solution, Dérivé azoté α-trifluorométhylé, Éther d’hémiaminal, Synthèse asymétrique. / Chiral N-tert-butansulfinamides, developped by Ellman 20 years ago, have been increasingly applied for the preparation of chiral functionnalized amines, because of the affordability of both enantiomers and of their mild conditions of cleavage. However, the use of theses auxiliaries for the synthesis of quaternary trifluoromethyl derivatives remains quite limited, the corresponding trifluoromethyl ketoimines being highly unstable.Chiral N-tert-butanesulfinyl alkyl(aryl) trifluoromethyl hemiaminal ethers have been developped to be used as bench-stable surrogates of these ketoimines : once under reaction conditions, they afford the corresponding ketoimine in situ, which can be subject to a nucleophilic addition.In this manuscript, different reactions led on these hemiaminal ethers are described, affording valuable and optically pure trifluoromethylated quaternary building-blocks : on the one hand, homoallylic amines, obtained by the addition of allylalane species, and which can afford, after a few steps, teh corresponding trifluoromethyl azetidines, and on the other hand, chiral trifluoromethyl β3,3-amino acids, afforded by a highly diastereoselective Reformatsky reaction.These β 3,3-amino acids have been then involved in solution-phase peptide couplings in order to synthetise a wide range of α/β- and β-di- and tripeptides, whose conformation have been the object of preliminary studies in the solid state and/or in solution.Key-words : Ellman auxiliary, Nucleophilic addition, Solution-phase peptide coupling, α-trifluoromethylated nitrogen derivative, Hemiaminal ether, asymmetric synthesis.

The subject of this diploma thesis is a study of the influence of cellulose ethers on the rheological properties of lime. The theoretical part focuses on rheological parameters, techniques and test equipment used in rheology measurements. Various types of cellulose ethers and their influence on the rheological properties of fresh mortars are described. The practical part deals with the study of the influence of different types and quantities of cellulose ethers on the properties of fresh lime pastes and mortars. The results were obtained from measurements on a rotational rheometer with a special geometry for building materials. Measuring methods used were flow and oscillatory tests. Yield stress, viscosity and flow index were determined by the flow measurement. The stability and stiffness of fresh materials were determined during the oscillation measurements. The measured results are then evaluated and compared.

This thesis focuses on the synthesis and characterization of various poly(arylene ether)s to improve the efficiency of gas separation and water desalination membranes. This class of polymers includes polymers such as poly(arylene ether sulfone), poly(arylene ether ketone) and poly(phenylene oxide) which offer excellent thermal and mechanical stability and usually have high enough rigidity to support gas separation and water desalination operations. Besides the plethora of properties offered by the homopolymers, these polymers can also be post-modified to cater to specific needs. For example, the polyphenylene oxides have been brominated to increase the permeability for gas separation applications. Blending is another viable method to impart desirable properties to polymers. Bisphenol A based poly(arylene ether ketone) (BPAPAEK) has been blended with commercially available poly(2,6-dimethylphenylene oxide)s (PPO) of different molecular weights in a fixed ratio (66/34 wt/wt) and in various ratios of a 22000 g/mol PPO. All the blends were UV crosslinked to minimize plasticization by condensable gases and analyzed for gel fractions, whereas, only the 22,000 g/mol blends were tested for transport properties since they yielded the highest gel fractions and exhibited the best mechanical properties. The crosslinking reduced the free volume and improved the selectivity with some drop in permeability. The blends with 90% of the 22000 g/mol PPO by weight was plotted closest to the upperbound. A phosphine oxide based poly(arylene ether ketone) (POPAEK) was blended with the various PPOs in a similar manner. The results were compared to the BPAPAEK based blends in terms of miscibility behavior and transport properties. It was found that the POPAEK based blends had higher permeability due to the higher fractional free volumes of the POPAEK. The POPAEK was more compatible with the PPOs than BPAPAEK as seen by analyzing various blend permeability models, mechanical properties and scanning electron microscope images. Moreover, blends with both the PAEKs displayed only a small drop in mechanical properties, such as the Young's modulus and the yield strength in comparison to the parent polymers. Hydroquinone based poly(arylene ether sulfone) oligomers were synthesized, post-sulfonated and chemically crosslinked to determine the effect of water uptake, fixed charge concentration and block length of oligomers on the salt permeability and the hydrated mechanical properties of the networks. The sulfonic acid groups were placed strategically and quantitatively on the hydroquinone units. The strategic placement of the acid groups may help in maintaining high rejection of monovalent ions in the presence of divalent ions, as shown in unpublished work by our group. It was found that the water uptake and fixed charge density had the opposite effects on the salt permeability. Also, the salt permeability varied differently for 5000g/mol and 10000g/mol block based networks. Another polymer that was investigated in this thesis was poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx). An elaborate account of synthesis of monofunctional, heterobifunctional and telechelic poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)s using different initiators including methyl triflate, activated alkyl halides (e.g., benzyl halides), and non-activated alkyl halides has been presented in this thesis. Endgroup functionalities and molecular weight distributions were studied by SEC, 1H NMR and titrations. The oligomers initiated with the benzyl or xylyl chloride had a PDI of 1.3-1.4 which is broader than expected for a living cationic ring opened polymer. This was attributed to the participation of covalent species which propagated slowly in the activated halide reactions. These oligomers were quantitatively terminated as proven by NMR and titrations. Due to the molecular weight distributions and quantitative termination these oligomers were deemed to be desirable for drug delivery applications. / PHD

Ce travail de recherche porte sur le retrait plastique et la fissuration induite pour les matériaux cimentaires présentant une grande surface libre par rapport au volume. Le retrait plastique est une déformation du matériau cimentaire qui se produit avant durcissement. Le mortier de référence considéré pour cette étude est une formulation par ailleurs exploitée dans le cadre des travaux initiés par le projet CEReM (Consortium pour l'Etude et la Recherche sur les Mortiers). Dans le cadre de cette thèse, un ensemble de moyens expérimentaux a été mis en place de façon à étudier le comportement du mortier au très jeune âge dans des conditions de retrait libre et de retrait empêché. La mesure sans contact du retrait surfacique est réalisée au moyen d'une instrumentation optique. Une nouvelle technique de retrait empêché a été également mise en place : elle se distingue des autres couramment rencontrées dans la littérature par sa simplicité et elle permet d'avoir directement l'évolution de la contrainte interne de traction dans le matériau au cours du retrait. L'ensemble de ces protocoles expérimentaux ont permis d'étudier l'influence des fibres (fibres de verre, fibres de polypropylène), de l'adjuvant anti-retrait (type Glycol), des poudres de polymère (éther de cellulose, le latex “EVA”) sur le comportement au très jeune âge du matériau cimentaire. Une partie de la thèse est consacrée à la modélisation numérique du comportement du matériau cimentaire pendant la prise. Dans cette partie, un modèle élastoplastique est proposé. La plasticité est décrite par le critère isotrope de Von Mises dans lequel nous avons introduit une évolution de la surface de charge en fonction de la maturation du matériau. L'implantation de ce modèle de comportement dans un code de calcul a conduit à la simulation numérique de l'essai de retrait empêché : une comparaison entre modèle et expérience est ensuite discutée.

Nosso grupo de pesquisa vem se dedicado, há vários anos, ao estudo das reações de ciclização eletrofílica de substratos insaturados que contêm um nucleófilo interno (oxigênio ou nitrogênio). Este trabalho teve como objetivo obter derivados de éteres cíclicos de cinco e seis membros diferentemente funcionalizados. Compostos 1,3-dicarbonílicos e ß-hidróxi carbonílicos, contendo dupla ligação em posição apropriada, foram submetidos à reação de ciclização mediada tanto por iodo quanto por dimetildioxirana. De maneira semelhante, ß-enamino ésteres alquenilados foram submetidos à reação de iodociclização visando à síntese de diidropirróis, pirrolidínas e tetraidroindóis. Os heterociclos funcionalizados com iodo foram submetidos à reação de desidroiodação, promovida por base, fornecendo os correspondentes produtos de eliminação. / Our research group has been studying, for several years, eletrophilic cyclization reactions of unsaturated substrates bearing internal nucleophiles such as oxygen or nitrogen. This work aimed to obtain five and six membered cyclic ether derivatives differently functionalized. 1,3-Dicarbonyl and ß-hydroxy carbonyl compounds bearing double bonds suitably positioned were submitted to cyclization reaction mediated by either iodine or dimethyldioxirane. Similarly, alkenyl substituted ß-enamino esters were also prepared and submitted to iodo-cyclization reaction leading to dihydropyrrols, to pyrrolidines or to tetrahydroindols. The heterocyclic compounds bearing iodine were submitted to the corresponding dehydroiodination reaction mediated by base, furnishing elimination products

[pt] A síntese direta de dimetil éter (DME) a partir de gás de síntese é catalisada a partir de catalisadores bifuncionais que possuem duas propriedades: uma hidrogenante que catalisa a formação de metanol a partir de gás de síntese e a outra desidratante que se encarrega da formação do dimetil éter a partir do metanol. Catalisadores bifuncionais com componente hidrogenante baseado em Cu, Zn e Al e componente desidratante baseado na zeólita H-ferrierita foram sintetizados, avaliando-se, o método de preparação, a influência do alumínio no componente hidrogenante e a razão componente desidratante versus componente hidrogenante. Dos diferentes métodos de preparação utilizados: precipitação-deposição, coprecipitação-impregnação e coprecipitação-sedimentação foram os dois últimos que apresentaram melhores resultados na conversão de gás de síntese além de apresentar a formação do precursor do catalisador de síntese de metanol. Os catalisadores foram caracterizados por: absorção atômica, análise térmica gravimétrica, adsorção de N2, difração de raios-x, redução com temperatura programada (RTP), dessorção com temperatura programada de amônia (DTPNH3), dessorção com temperatura programada de hidrogênio (DTP-H2) e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. Verificou-se que o catalisador bifuncional apresenta um entupimento no volume de poros de aproximadamente 50 por cento. Os resultados dos raios-x identificaram a formação das fases auricalcita, hidrozincita, malaquita e rosacita nos catalisadores com componente hidrogenante baseado em Cu e Zn dos catalisadores com componente hidrogenante baseado em Cu, Zn e Al, e razão atômica Cu/Zn/Al:55/30/15, se observou somente a fase hidrotalcita. A inclusão de alumínio no componente hidrogenante favoreceu a formação de partículas de CuO muito pequenas, conforme observado na microscopia eletrônica de transmissão e difração de raios-x. A análise da DTP-H2 mostrou que os catalisadores preparados por coprecipitação-impregnação apresentam áreas de cobre um pouco maiores. A DTP-NH3 identificou a presença de sítios ácidos de Lewis e de Bronsted que ainda permanecem na H-ferrierita após a preparação do catalisador bifuncional. Sítios ácidos de Bronsted diminuem em maior proporção no catalisador bifuncional quando é preparado pelo método de coprecipitação-impregnação. Os testes catalíticos mostraram não existem grandes diferenças entre os catalisadores bifuncionais preparados por ambos os métodos e que o alumínio no componente hidrogenante não melhora a atividade catalítica destes catalisadores na síntese direta de DME. Concluiu-se que a etapa limitante do processo é a hidrogenação e que esta é dominada pelo cobre e que a H-ferrierita é um excelente componente desidratante pela sua elevada acidez. / [en] The direct synthesis of dimethyl ether from syngas is catalyzed by bifunctional catalysts: the hydrogenation function that catalyzes the methanol formation and the dehydration function to produce dimethyl ether from methanol. Bifunctional catalysts with Cu, Zn and Al as hydrogenation component and Hferrierite zeolite as dehydration component had been synthesized. It was evaluated the method of preparation, the influence of aluminum present in the hydrogenation component and dehydration/hydrogenation component ratio. The coprecipitating impregnation and coprecipitating sedimentation methods were used to form the precursor of hydrogenation component. The catalysts had been characterized by atomic absorption, thermal gravimetry analysis, N2 adsorption, xrays diffraction, TPR, ammonia TPD, hydrogen TPD and transmission electronic microscopy. It was verified that the bifunctional catalyst lost 50 percent of its pore volume. The results of x-rays identified the formation of aurichalcite, hydrozincite, malachite and rosacite phases in the catalyst based on Cu and Zn. However, in the catalyst based on Cu, Zn and Al (for an atomic ratio, Cu/Zn/Al:55/30/15) only the hidrotalcite phase was found. It was observed that the aluminum introduction in the hydrogenation component favors the formation of very small particles of CuO as verified in transmission electronic microscopy and x-rays diffraction. The NH3-TPD identified the presence of Lewis and Bronsted acid sites that still remain in the H-ferrierite after the preparation of the bifunctional catalysts. Bronsted acid sites had an importante decrease in the bifunctional catalysts when it is prepared by the method of coprecipitating impregnation. The catalytic tests showed that the catalysts prepared by the coprecipitating sedimentation method, present higher conversions and DME selectivitys than the prepared by coprecipitating impregnation. The presence of Al in the hydrogenation component doesn`t improve the catalytic activity. It can be concluded that the H-ferrierite is an excellent dehydration component for its high acidity and that the methanol synthesis can be limitant in the process of direct synthesis of DME from syngas.