Hydrophobicity is the generalized characteristic of non-polar substances that brings about their exclusion from aqueous phases. This property, entropic in its nature, drives key self-assembly and phase separation processes in water. Protein folding, the formation of DNA double helix, the existence of lipid bilayers and the wetting properties of leaf surfaces are all due to hydrophobic interactions. Inspired by Nature, we aimed to use hydrophobicity for creating novel and improved catalytic systems. (I) A number of fluorous amphiphilic star block-copolymers containing a tris(benzyltriazolylmethyl)amine motif have been prepared. These polymers assembled into well-defined nanostructures in water, and their mode of assembly could be controlled by changing the composition of the polymer. The polymers were used for enzyme-inspired catalysis of alcohol oxidation. (II) An enzyme-inspired catalytic system based on a rationally designed multifunctional surfactant was developed. The resulting micelles feature metal-binding sites and stable free radical moieties as well as fluorous pockets that attract and preconcentrate molecular oxygen. In the presence of copper ions, the micelles effect chemoselective aerobic alcohol oxidation under ambient conditions in water, a transformation that is challenging to achieve nonenzymatically. (III) Development of a facile means of photo/electrocatalytic water splitting is one of the main barriers to establishing of a solar hydrogen economy. Of the two half-reactions involved in splitting water into O2 and H2, water oxidation presents the most challenge due to its mechanistic complexity. A practical water oxidation catalyst must be highly active, yet inexpensive and indefinitely stable under harsh oxidative conditions. Here, I shall describe the synthesis of a library of molecular water oxidation catalysts based on the Co complex of tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine, (BimH)3. A wide range of catalysts differing in their electronic properties, surface affinity, and steric bulk was explored. We identified hydrophobicity as the key variable in mediating the catalytic competence of Co-(BimH)3 complexes. The change in this parameter correlates both with the conformational mobility of the ligand core and the structural changes in the local solvent environment around the catalytic metal site. The optimal ligand identified is superhydrophobic due to three fluorinated side chains. The corresponding Co complex catalyzes water electrooxidation efficiently, with an onset potential equal to that for the well-established CoPi heterogeneous system, albeit with a dramatically higher turnover frequency (TOF) and in the absence of soluble Co salts. As an added benefit, the hydrophobic catalyst can be immobilized through physisorption, and remains stable after prolonged controlled-potential electrolysis. A DFT calculation was also performed to understand the catalytic pathway.

No description available.

Dans un contexte industriel où les réactions d'oxydation sont réalisées dans des conditions qui ne satisfont pas toujours les principes de la chimie verte, notre groupe étudie des catalyseurs de structure N-hydroxyphtalimide (NHPI), pour l'oxydation aérobie de substrats organiques variés dans des conditions douces. Dans le but d'obtenir des catalyseurs plus actifs, deux familles d'analogues hautement substitués sur le noyau phtalimide ont été préparées, suivant deux nouvelles méthodologies de synthèse. La première consiste en la bis-ortho-métallation / silylation d'acides ortho-phtaliques non protégés, pour un accès très rapide à des analogues silylés du NHPI. Les premiers tests en catalyse d'oxydation aérobie montrent une influence intéressante des groupements silyles sur la stabilité de l'espèce active, via leur encombrement stérique, cela permettant une amélioration de l'activité catalytique. La seconde stratégie inclut une cyclotrimérisation [2+2+2] totalement intramoléculaire d'ène-diyne diesters, pour la construction d'un squelette bis-ortho-lactone pentacyclique innovant. Ces intermédiaires sont aisément transformés en 3,6-bis(2-hydroxyphényl)-4,5-diarylphtalimides, ces composés présentant une symétrie C2 et deux axes d'atropoisomérie. Le dédoublement des énantiomères a été effectué, dans la perspective d'obtenir des catalyseurs d'oxydation aérobie potentiellement énantiosélectifs. / In the chemical industry, oxidation reactions are not often performed in green chemistry conditions. Our group has been studying N-hydroxyphthalimides (NHPI) catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of various organic substrates in mild conditions. In order to obtain more active catalysts, two families of analogs, showing high substitution on the phthalimide core, have been prepared, following two new synthetic methodologies. The first one consists of the bis-ortho-metalation / silylation of unprotected ortho-phthalic acids, for the efficient access to silylated analogs of NHPI. Preliminary tests in aerobic oxidation catalysis show an interesting influence of the bulkiness of the silyl groups towards the active species, because of increases in catalytic activities. The second strategy includes a totally intramolecular [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization of ene-diyne diesters, affording an innovative pentacyclic bis-ortho-lactone scaffold. These intermediates are easily converted to 3,6-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-diarylphthalimides, which present C2 symmetry and two atropoisomeric axis. The resolution of both enantiomers has been performed, in order to access aerobic oxidation catalysts with potent enantioselective activity.

No description available.

No description available.

Des nanoparticules d’or dispersées dans un carbone mésoporeux CMK-n (n = 1,3 et 8) ont été obtenues par une méthode originale qui consiste à répliquer des silices mésoporeuses dans lesquelles les particules d’or ont été préalablement formées. La taille des particules d’or est plus petite lorsque la surface de la silice est fonctionnalisée par un thiol (MPTMS) (dAu ~ 2 nm) que par un ammonium (TPTAC) (dAu ~ 6 nm). La taille des particules d’or dans les répliques peut être contrôlée à la fois par la température de calcination du moule et par la température de pyrolyse de la source de carbone. Bien que les répliques carbonées soient beaucoup mieux dispersées dans le milieu réactionnel apolaire que les moules siliciques correspondants, elles sont moins actives dans les oxydations aérobies du cyclohexène et du trans-stilbène en phase liquide. Les meilleures performances dans l'oxydation de ces deux molécules ont été obtenues sur les répliques pyrolysées à 750°C et contenant des particules d’or de taille moyenne d'environ 2 nm. Les très petites particules sont moins actives, probablement parce qu'elles sont complètement enrobées par du carbone, donc inaccessibles. Les performances catalytiques de nos répliques ont été comparées avec celles d'un catalyseur Au/CMK-3 préparé par dépôt colloïdal sur un carbone mésoporeux pré-formé. Les résultats montrent que nos catalyseurs sont beaucoup moins actifs que celui préparé par dépôt colloïdal, car la majorité des particules dans nos répliques sont recouvertes par du carbone. L'inaccessibilité des particules aux gaz a été confirmée par une mesure de chimisorption d’hydrogène sur un catalyseur Pt/CMK-3 préparé par une méthode identique. / Highly dispersed gold nanoparticles in ordered mesoporous carbons CMK-3 have been obtained by an original method which consists in replicating mesoporous SBA-15 silicas containing gold nanoparticles. The gold particle size is smaller when the silica surface is functionalized with a thiol (mercaptopropyl graft, MPTMS) (dAu ~ 2 nm) than with an ammonium (TPTAC) (dAu ~ 6 nm). The gold particle size in replicas can be controlled by both the calcination temperature of the silica template and the pyrolysis temperature of the carbon source. Although the carbon replicas are much better dispersed in non polar solvents than the corresponding silica templates, they are less active in the aerobic oxidations of cyclohexene and trans-stilbene in the liquid phase. The best performances in the oxidation of these two molecules have been obtained on replicas pyrolysed at 750°C and containing gold particles with an average size of about 2 nm. The very small particles are unexpectedly less active probably because they are completely coated by carbon, and thus inaccessible. The catalytic performances of our replicas have been compared with those of a Au/CMK-3 catalyst prepared by colloidal deposition onto a preformed mesoporous carbon replica. The results show that our catalysts are much less active than that prepared by colloidal deposition because the majority of particles in our replicas are covered by carbon. The inaccessibility of particles to gases has been confirmed by hydrogen chemisorption on a Pt/CMK-3 catalyst prepared by an identical method.

Le N-hydroxytétraphénylphtalimide (NHTPPI) présente une activité catalytique sensiblement supérieure à celle du N-hydroxyphtalimide (NHPI) dans l'oxydation aérobie de substrats organiques. Deux nouvelles voies d'accès à des analogues fonctionnalisés du NHTPPI ont été étudiées. La première implique une réaction de Diels-Alder entre des oxydes ou dioxydes de thiophènes polyaromatiques et le maléimide ou l'anhydride maléique. De nombreuses limitations rendent cette approche difficilement généralisable. Dans la deuxième voie, l'étape clé est une cycloaddition entre des tétracyclones ou des acécyclones et le 2-bromomaléimide qui conduit directement au motif phtalimide par décarbonylation et déshydrobromation de l'adduit de Diels-Alder. Cette méthodologie de synthèse très efficace et tolérante a permis d'introduire des groupements variés sur les cycles aromatiques portés par le noyau benzénique central et d'obtenir de nouveaux analogues du NHTPPI ainsi que des N-hydroxydiarylacénaphtophtalimides en seulement trois à cinq étapes. La chiralité axiale a été mise en évidence en série diarylacénaphtophtalimide et la séparation d'énantiomères a été réalisée dans un premier cas, ce qui ouvre la voie vers de nouveaux analogues chiraux du NHPI. Les nouveaux N-hydroxyimides obtenus ont montré d'excellentes performances en catalyse d'oxydation aérobie, dans tous les cas supérieurs à celles du NHPI et, dans certains cas, à celles du NHTPPI. / N-Hydroxytetraphenylphthalimide (NHTPPI) exhibits a better catalytic activity than N-hydroxyphtalimide (NHPI) in the aerobic oxidation of organic substrates. Two new routes to functionalized analogs of NHTPPI have been studied. The first one involves a Diels-Alder reaction between polyaromatic thiophene oxides or dioxides and maleimide or maleic anhydrid. Several limitations make this approach difficult to generalize. In the second approach, the key step is a cycloaddition between tetracyclones or acecyclones and 2-bromomaleimide to directly give the phthalimide framework by decarbonylation and deshydrobromation of the Diels-Alder adduct. This versatile and efficient methodology allowed us to introduce various functional groups on the aromatic cycles borne by the central ring, and thus, new NHTPPI analogs, along with N-hydroxydiarylacenaphthophtalimides, were obtained in only three to five steps. Axial chirality was underlined in the diarylacenaphtophtalimide family and resolution of enantiomers was carried out in one case, which opens a way to new chiral analogs of NHPI. The new N-hydroxyimides exhibit excellent performances as catalysts in aerobic oxidation, superior to NHPI and, in some cases, to NHTPPI.

Aminoacetona (AA) é um catabólito de Thr e Gly que se acumula nas síndromes cri-du-chat e treoninemia. Atualmente, a oxidação de AA é considerada uma das fontes alternativas de metilglioxal (MG), agente citotóxico e genotóxico, em diabetes mellitus. Em estados de deficiência metabólica, tal como o diabetes, há acúmulo de AA que, por sua vez, sofre oxidação na presença de amino oxidases sensíveis à semicarbazida (SSAO) com a produção de MG, H2O2 e NH4+. As SSAO são enzimas Cu-dependentes, cujo mecanismo de atuação ainda é pouco conhecido e possui como substrato, além de AA, metilamina (endógena) e a benzilamina (xenobiótico). AA possui um grupo amino vicinal à uma carbonila, o que sugere que ela possa sofrer enolização e oxidação catalisada por metal, produzindo espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs), inclusive radicais HO•. A presente tese tem por objetivo esclarecer o mecanismo pelo qual AA sofre oxidação aeróbica, direta e catalisada por metal, com concomitante produção de EROs. Foi dada ênfase à catalise por ferro por sua implicação em desordens associadas com diabetes. Serão apresentados resultados que implicam AA como promotora de danos a membrana de mitocôndrias isoladas, bem como a estrutura proteica de ferritina e ceruloplasmina (CP). Como ferritina e CP estão envolvidas na homeostase de ferro, os danos causados a estas proteínas por AA possivelmente afetam o estado redox de plasma de diabéticos, contribuindo significantemente para o aumento do estresse oxidativo no diabetes. / Aminoacetone (AA) is a threonine and glycine catabolite long known to accumulate in cri-du-chat and threoninemia syndromes and, more recent1y, implicated as a contributing source of methylglyoxal (MG) in diabetes mellitus. AcetylCoA overproduction in diabetes also leads to AA accumulation. AA as well as many other endogenous (e.g., methylamine) and xenobiotic amines (e.g., benzylamine) are oxidized by dioxygen in the presence of SSAO, a group of poorly understood plasma circulating and membrane bound Cu-dependent enzymes, yielding an aldehyde, H2O2 and NH4+ ions. With AA, SSAO activity paradoxally produces the cytotoxic and genotoxic MG. AA bears an amino group vicinal to the carbonyl function and therefore is expected to undergo phosphate-catalyzed enolization and iron-catalyzed oxidation to yield reactive oxygen species (ROS), including HO• radicals. The present work aims to clarify the mechanisms by which AA undergoes direct and metal-catalyzed aerobic oxidation to yield deleterious ROS, with emphasis on the catalytic role of iron given its well-known implications in diabetes. In the present work we show that ROS generated through the aerobic oxidation of AA are able to induce damage in isolated rat liver mitochondria as well as in horse spleen ferritin (HoSF) and human ceruloplasmin (CP). The current findings of changes in HoSF and CP may contribute to explain intracellular iron-induced oxidative stress during AA accumulation in diabetes mellitus patients.

Há algum tempo, o laboratório de eletrossíntese orgânica do Instituto de Química vem estudando reações de halociclização na obtenção de compostos heterocíclicos de enxofre. No presente trabalho foram utilizados γ-δ e ;-δ-ε alquenil benzil sulfetos e realizados experimentos seguindo duas metodologias diferentes: a química (reações dos substratos com bromo) e a eletroquímica (reações dos substratos com bromo gerado eletroquimicamente). Os experimentos eletroquímicos são mais vantajosos porque dispensam a manipulação de bromo que, neste método, é gerado in situ através da oxidação eletroquímica de íons brometo. As misturas de reação obtidas nestes experimentos foram submetidas à oxidação com ácido m-cloro-perbenzóico ou oxone antes de isolar e caracterizar os produtos formados. Obteve-se resultados diferentes dependendo da metodologia empregada. Para os experimentos realizados com os 2-(1-ciclopentenil)-etilbenzil sulfeto (1a), 2-(1-cicloexenil)-etil-benzil sulfeto (1b) e (5-fenil-4pentenil)-benzil sulfeto (1c) em que foi utilizado bromo, os produtos principais foram os compostos heterocíclicos esperados a saber, hexa-hidro-3a-bromociclopenta[b]tiofeno-S-dióxido (6a), octa-hidro-3a-bromo-benzo[b]tiofeno-Sdióxido (6b) e 2-(1-bromo-1-fenilmetil)-tetra-hidro-tiofeno-S-dióxido (6c) respectivamente, porém o (3-metil-3-butenil)-benzil sulfeto (1d), nas mesmas condições, conduziu à (3,4-dibromo-3-metil-butil)-benzil sulfona (3d). Nos experimentos eletroquímicos, os resultados dependeram do eletrólito de suporte e do tipo de cela utilizados. Em cela dividida, utilizando Et4NClO4 na presença de pequenas quantidades de Et4NBr, o sulfeto (1b) forneceu como produto principal o composto heterocíclico (6b) e o sulfeto (1d) forneceu o perclorato de 3-bromo-3-metil-tetra-hidro-tiofeno-S-benzil sulfônio (4d). Quando apenas Et4NBr foi empregado o produto principai para o sulfeto (1b) foi o composto de adição de bromo à ligação dupla 2-(1,2-dibromocicloexil)-etil-benzil sulfona (7b). Este mesmo substrato fornece como produto principal a 2-(1,2-epóxi-1-cicloexil)-etil-benzil sulfona (11b) quando a eletrólise é realizada em cela não dividida. / The laboratory of organic electrosynthesis of the Instituto de Química has studied halocyclisation reactions to obtain of sulfur heterocyclic compounds. In the present work, γ-δ and δ-ε alkenyl benzyl sulfides were employed and experiments were carried out using two methodologies, a chemical (substrate reactions with bromine) and an electrochemical (substrate reactions with bromine generated electrochemically). The electrochemical experiments are more suitable because they avoid handling of bromine which is generated in situ by electrochemical oxidation. The crude reaction products were oxidized with m-chloroperbenzoic acid or oxone before their separation and characterization. Different results were obtained depending upon the methodology used. When 2-benzylthio-1-(1-cyclopentene)-ethane (1a), 2-benzylthio-1-(1-cyclo hexene)-ethane (1b) and 5-benzylthio-1-phenyl-1-pentene (1c) reacted with bromine the expected cyclic compounds hexahydro-3a-bromocyclopentan [b]thiophene-S-dioxide (6a), octahydro-3a-bromobenzo[b]thiophene-S-dioxide (6b) and 2-(1-bromo-1-phenylmethyl)tetrahydro-thiophene-S-dioxide (6c) respectively, were obtained, but (3-methyl-3-butenyl) benzyl sulfide (1d) yielded (3,4-dibromo-3-methylbutyl) benzyl sulfone (3d). In the electrochemical experiments, the structure of the products depends on the salt used as electrolyte and the type of cell used in the electrolyses. In a divided cell, when Et4NClO4 in the presence of small amounts of Et4NBr was employed, the main product from sulfide (1b) was compound (6b) whereas (3-methyl-3-butenyl) benzyl sulfide (1d) yielded 3-bromo-3-methyltetrahydrothiophene-S-benzyl sulfonium perchlorate (4d). Using only Et4NBr as electrolyte (1b) gave 2-(1,2-dibromocyclohexyl)ethyl benzyl sulfone (7b). The same substrate (1b) when electrolysed in an undivided cell, and otherwise same experimental conditions, afforded, as major product, 2-(1,2-epoxy-1-cyclohexyl)ethyl benzyl sulfone (11b).

Aminoacetona (AA) é um catabólito de Thr e Gly que se acumula nas síndromes cri-du-chat e treoninemia. Atualmente, a oxidação de AA é considerada uma das fontes alternativas de metilglioxal (MG), agente citotóxico e genotóxico, em diabetes mellitus. Em estados de deficiência metabólica, tal como o diabetes, há acúmulo de AA que, por sua vez, sofre oxidação na presença de amino oxidases sensíveis à semicarbazida (SSAO) com a produção de MG, H2O2 e NH4+. As SSAO são enzimas Cu-dependentes, cujo mecanismo de atuação ainda é pouco conhecido e possui como substrato, além de AA, metilamina (endógena) e a benzilamina (xenobiótico). AA possui um grupo amino vicinal à uma carbonila, o que sugere que ela possa sofrer enolização e oxidação catalisada por metal, produzindo espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs), inclusive radicais HO•. A presente tese tem por objetivo esclarecer o mecanismo pelo qual AA sofre oxidação aeróbica, direta e catalisada por metal, com concomitante produção de EROs. Foi dada ênfase à catalise por ferro por sua implicação em desordens associadas com diabetes. Serão apresentados resultados que implicam AA como promotora de danos a membrana de mitocôndrias isoladas, bem como a estrutura proteica de ferritina e ceruloplasmina (CP). Como ferritina e CP estão envolvidas na homeostase de ferro, os danos causados a estas proteínas por AA possivelmente afetam o estado redox de plasma de diabéticos, contribuindo significantemente para o aumento do estresse oxidativo no diabetes. / Aminoacetone (AA) is a threonine and glycine catabolite long known to accumulate in cri-du-chat and threoninemia syndromes and, more recent1y, implicated as a contributing source of methylglyoxal (MG) in diabetes mellitus. AcetylCoA overproduction in diabetes also leads to AA accumulation. AA as well as many other endogenous (e.g., methylamine) and xenobiotic amines (e.g., benzylamine) are oxidized by dioxygen in the presence of SSAO, a group of poorly understood plasma circulating and membrane bound Cu-dependent enzymes, yielding an aldehyde, H2O2 and NH4+ ions. With AA, SSAO activity paradoxally produces the cytotoxic and genotoxic MG. AA bears an amino group vicinal to the carbonyl function and therefore is expected to undergo phosphate-catalyzed enolization and iron-catalyzed oxidation to yield reactive oxygen species (ROS), including HO• radicals. The present work aims to clarify the mechanisms by which AA undergoes direct and metal-catalyzed aerobic oxidation to yield deleterious ROS, with emphasis on the catalytic role of iron given its well-known implications in diabetes. In the present work we show that ROS generated through the aerobic oxidation of AA are able to induce damage in isolated rat liver mitochondria as well as in horse spleen ferritin (HoSF) and human ceruloplasmin (CP). The current findings of changes in HoSF and CP may contribute to explain intracellular iron-induced oxidative stress during AA accumulation in diabetes mellitus patients.