The realization that oligosaccharides play a central role in many biological processes has led to increasing interest in the preparation of synthetic targets for use in medical or biochemical research and drug discovery. The preparation of oligosaccharides from simple carbohydrate derivatives requires efficient methods for the construction of O-glycosidic bonds. Much effort has been made towards the development of selective methods for the preparation of oligosaccharide targets. The most common method to overcome the challenge of regioselectivity is the use of protecting group manipulations to suppress glycosylation at undesired positions. This is highly inefficient in terms of atom and step economy. Organoboron catalysis is a recent strategy that imparts regioselective activation of the equatorial hydroxy group of cis-vicinal diols towards functionalization. Following the initial findings that diarylborinic acid catalyzes the regioselective acylation of carbohydrate derivatives, an analogous method for regioselective glycosylation under Koenigs-Knorr conditions has been developed.

The realization that oligosaccharides play a central role in many biological processes has led to increasing interest in the preparation of synthetic targets for use in medical or biochemical research and drug discovery. The preparation of oligosaccharides from simple carbohydrate derivatives requires efficient methods for the construction of O-glycosidic bonds. Much effort has been made towards the development of selective methods for the preparation of oligosaccharide targets. The most common method to overcome the challenge of regioselectivity is the use of protecting group manipulations to suppress glycosylation at undesired positions. This is highly inefficient in terms of atom and step economy. Organoboron catalysis is a recent strategy that imparts regioselective activation of the equatorial hydroxy group of cis-vicinal diols towards functionalization. Following the initial findings that diarylborinic acid catalyzes the regioselective acylation of carbohydrate derivatives, an analogous method for regioselective glycosylation under Koenigs-Knorr conditions has been developed.

Heterocycles were prepared through the geminal acylation of 2-methoxyoxazolidines with 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)cyclobutene. It was found that when water was excluded from the standard reaction conditions, regioselectivity of the ring expansion step was reversed, resulting in preferential rupturing of the endocyclic C-O bond instead of the C-N bond. Further cyclization resulted in the generation of 6,5-fused ring systems. The aqueous procedure was found to be applicable to 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)cyclopentene, resulting in the analogous 6,6-fused ring systems, while the anhydrous procedure failed to promote ring expansion. Tricyclic 6,5,6-fused ring systems were obtained with meso-7,8-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene using the anhydrous procedure, while the intermediate generated under aqueous conditions failed to undergo ring closing. Allylic alcohol derivatives were subjected to homodimerization in the presence of a first-generation ruthenium catalyst. Previous work suggested that thermodynamic equilibration to the E-isomer was not a significant process for first-generation catalysts. However, product E/Z ratios were, in general, observed to increase significantly over time. In addition, an atmosphere of ethylene promoted reversion to the terminal olefins, leading to rapid E/Z equilibration, albeit at the expense of yield. Brief exposure to ethylene over the course of reaction resulted in a high E/Z ratio in a moderate yield. A 6,6,5-fused ring system was synthesized via the tandem Nazarov cyclization-intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the corresponding allenyl vinyl ketone. The presence of electron donating substituents on the arene, as well as a two-carbon tether linking the arene to the allenyl vinyl ketone, were crucial to the success of the reaction. The intermolecular trapping of an allenyl vinyl ketone with substituted arenes was also investigated. Trapping occurred primarily at the electronically preferred position a, while sterically encumbered substrates tended to trap preferentially at the less hindered position c. Surprisingly, 1,3,5-trisubstituted arenes trapped almost exclusively at position a, having overcome significant steric crowding, demonstrated by hindered rotation about the newly formed carbon-carbon bond.

This research project explores factors affecting sustainability initiatives within educational institutions. Using grounded theory and mixed-methods, the project evaluates the experiences and perspective of nineteen individuals involved with sustainability initiatives in schools. Twelve research participants are from one school community while the other seven are sustainability programme coordinators at a range of educational institutions. Results indicate that significant life experiences and situational factors both have an impact on an individual’s perspective on sustainability. The success of sustainability initiatives relies heavily on keen advocates for sustainability within the community and the support ascribed to sustainability by the institution. Providing engaging, hands-on experiences, supporting individuals and groups, and encouraging role modeling can foster an ethic of sustainability across the community. The outcome of this research project is a framework designed to help individuals and institutions in their efforts to support and implement sustainability initiatives. Keywords: Sustainability, education, barriers, environment

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This dissertation consists of a defence of scientific realism and a critique of empiricist antirealism. Strict empiricism is discussed in Chapter 1, in which it is argued that this variety of empiricism adequately describes only the initial stages of scientific research. Bas van Frassen's empiricist antirealism is then discussed in Chapter 2. Here, it is argued that this new position, although more sophisticated than earlier forms of empiricist antirealism, fails to constitute a genuinely acceptable alternative to scientific realism. The two main constituents of scientific realism--scientism and critical realism--are then defended in Chapters 3 and 4. Lastly, the superempirical virtues and their role in theory evaluation is discussed in Chapter 5, wherein they are presented as a nonempirical source of quality control on our theorizing.

An analysis of relevant aspects of the history of science shows that theology's loss of credibility in an increasingly science-oriented age can be attributed to unresolved disputes from the past over metaphysical, epistemological and methodological issues. In Chapters 1 and 2, an attempt is made to show that the basic disagreements between science and theology can be traced to the ongoing quest for the principles of knowing shared by all disciplines. In Chapters 3 to 6, an attempt is made to identify these principles. Firstly, the processes and principles by which science acquires its knowledge and deems it to be objective are examined. Secondly it is argued that these same processes and principles are not the special property of science but are used by the humanities as well. Thirdly, it is contended that these principles are "empirico-critical." They enable us to bridge the gap between thought and reality and gain access to knowledge of the external world. A more comprehensive model for knowing is proposed. Chapters 7 to 9 examine whether it is possible to apply empirico-critical principles to theology. From a study of relevant aspects of Austin Farrer's thought, it is argued (i) that the processes of knowing in theology are the same as those in the sciences and the humanities, (ii) that, though theology's procedures and techniques are necessarily different from, say, the sciences because of its subject matter, these are capable of adhering to the same principles of objectivity, and (iii) that, in principle, theological decision-making is possible, even in the most controversial debates. The conclusion is that since the same processes and principles of trustworthy knowing in the sciences and humanities are fully applicable to theology, theology's viability as a source of trustworthy knowing should no longer be held in doubt.