This dissertation presents new approaches towards the asymmetric allylation of the imino and formyl functionalities by using strained silanes as Lewis acids. Here in the Laboratory of Professor James L. Leighton, chiral homoallylic alcohols and amines are considered privileged products given their important role as building blocks in natural product synthesis. The new approaches reported herein are focused on expanding the scope of imine allylation reactions and gaining full synthetic utility of the corresponding homoallylic amine products by means of economic and user-friendly protocols. In addition, the discovery of a novel catalytic and mild approach to the asymmetric allylation of aldehydes will be the focus of discussion at the end of this works. Chapter 1 will give a brief introduction about general concepts in asymmetric allylation of aldehydes and imines as well as in applications of strained silane Lewis acids in these reactions. Chapter 2 will discuss the development of a novel asymmetric allylation method for N-heteroaryl hydrazones and the N-heteroaryl cleavage from the product to unmask the corresponding free amines. Chapter 3 will carry on these studies into different imine activating groups in search for a more general and user-friendly approach towards both allylation and cleavage protocols. Finally, Chapter 3 will discuss the development of a new methodology in which chiral bismuth (III) complexes can catalyze the asymmetric allylation of aldehydes with achiral strained allylsilanes.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

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A powerful new one-pot method has been developed for the reductive alkylation of malononitrile with aromatic aldehydes. This new procedure has vastly improved the yield and efficiency and increased the scope for the aromatic aldehydes. Incorporating water as the catalyst in ethanol for the condensation step allows stoichiometric amounts of malononitrile and aldehyde to be employed. After dilution and cooling the reduction step takes place quickly and efficiently with sodium borohydride to give monosubstituted malononitriles.The product from the reductive alkylation of malononitrile with 2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde quickly rearranges to a novel indolizine on silica gel or with heat, while alkylation of the monosubstituted derivative provides an unsymmetrically disubstituted malononitrile.We have also investigated this improved one-pot reductive alkylation using various 2-hydroxybenzaldehydes where intramolecular cyclization occurs following the condensation step and various 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-chromenes are formed. / Department of Chemistry

The efficiency of an intermolecular synthetic transformation can be improved by temporarily linking reaction components together. The addition of a tether leads to enhanced regio- and stereocontrol by restraining the mobility of the reacting partners, effectively transforming an intermolecular reaction into its intramolecular counterpart. Silicon tethers are associated with an expanding range of applications, including hydrosilylations, cycloadditions and radical reactions. This project has continued work pioneered by the Robertson group into silicon tethered Type I ene cyclisations, extending the methodology to incorporate O-linked ene precursors with the intention of applying this chemistry to the stereoselective synthesis of non-natural carbohydrates. This investigation encompassed advances in the area made concurrently within the Robertson group and extended the scope of the ene protocol by successfully incorporating latent functionality into the R-group side chain. In addition, a new route to the O-linked ene precursors was established employing silylcyanohydrin chemistry. In general, the ene reactions proceeded stereoselectively to generate the expected oxasilacyclohexanols, which could be cleaved oxidatively to afford 1,2,4-triols. The formation of the major diastereomer was consistent with ene cyclisation proceeding through a trans-decalin type transition state (e.g. leading to compound 1). During our attempts to effect ene cyclisation in the O-linked prenyl systems we observed an unexpected side reaction, resulting from intramolecular allylic transfer. Further studies revealed that this novel process could be initiated thermally to generate 1,2-homoallylic diols with excellent levels of stereoselectivity. Tethered E- and Z-crotylsilanes were found to be equally receptive to this process. Although attempts to apply the silicon tethered allyl transfer chemistry to aldimines and glycosides failed, an extension of the methodology to incorporate cyclohexadienylsilanes was successful and provided interesting synthetic intermediates for elaboration to carbasugars.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1982.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Organic Chemistry)) -- Mahidol University, 1978. / Supported by the University Development Commission.

Thesis (PH. D.)--University of Nebraska. / Bibliography: p. 3-4. Also issued in print.