The reaction of tris(2,2’-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III) (Ru(bipy) ₃³⁺) with various analytes to generate chemiluminescence has been well documented. This investigation sought to undertake a chemiluminometic study of the reactions of Ru(bipy) ₃³⁺ with selected Papaver Somniferum alkaloids and specifically synthesised phenethylamines. The investigation, based on a kinetic study, primarily addressed the effect of varying reaction conditions (pH) on Ru(bipy) ₃³⁺ chemiluminescence production. To monitor these reactions, a batch chemiluminometer was specifically designed, fabricated and automated to conduct an extensive study on the selected compounds of interest. The instrumentation incorporated a custom built reaction cell and comprised an ‘on-line’ sample preparation system with which calibration standards could be automatically prepared. The instrumentation provided both time-independent (peak area) and time-dependent (kinetic profile) information. A novel approach to the stabilisation of Ru(bipy) ₃³⁺ as a chemiluminescencent reagent was also investigated and a recirculating system was employed with the batch chemiluminometer to provide a stable supply of Ru(bipy) ₃³⁺. Codeine, thebaine and 6-methoxy-codeine were the Papaver Somniferum alkaloids selected for this study and several N-methylated and N,N-dimethylated phenethylamines and methoxy-substituted phenetheylamines were also synthesised to investigate the affect of pH on the chemiluminescence emission efficiency. The versatility of the batch chemiluminometer facilitated the kinetic study of numerous analytes over a broad pH range. The exemplary performance of the chemiluminometer as an analytical instrument, was demonstrated by the calibration functions, based on peak area data, which exhibited excellent linearity and sensitivity. The estimated detection limits (3σ) for the selected alkaloids were in the range 2 x 10&<sup>-9<&/sup;> M to 7 x 10&<sup>-9<&/sup;> at pH 5.0 and above, which compared favourably to detection limits for the same compounds determined using FIA. Relative standard deviations (n=5) for peak areas ranged between 1% to 5% with a mean of 3.1% for all calibration standards above 2.5 x 10&<sup>-8<&/sup;> M. Correlation between concentration and peak area, irrespective of pH and analyte was excellent, with all but two calibration functions having r-squared values greater than 0.990. The analytical figures of merit exemplified the precision and robustness of the reagent delivery and ‘on-line’ sample preparation, as well as the sensitivity of the system. The employment of the chemiluminometer for the measurement of total chemiluminescence emission (peak area) was in itself a feasible analytical technique, which generated highly reproducible and consistent data. Excellent analytical figures of merit, based on peak area, were similarly achieved for the phenethylamines. The effects of analyte structure on chemiluminescence activity was also investigated for the alkaloids and the phenethylamines. Subtle structural variations between the three alkaloids resulted in either a moderately reduced or enhanced total emission that was two or three fold difference only. A significant difference in reaction kinetics was observed between thebaine and codeine/6-methoxy-codeine, which was dependent upon pH. The time-dependent data, namely the observed rate constants for the initial rise in intensity and for the subsequent decay rate, were obtained by fitting a mathematical function (based on the postulated reaction mechanism) to the raw data. The determination of these rate constants for chemiluminescence reactions highlighted the feasibility for utilising such measurements for quantitative analytical applications. The kinetic data were used to discriminate between analyte responses in order to determine the concentrations of individual analytes in a binary mixture. A preliminary, multi-component investigation performed on a binary mixture of codeine and 6-methoxy-codeine (1:1) successfully determined the concentrations of these individual components using such rate constant measurements. Consequently, variations in kinetics resulted in a significant difference between the relative chemiluminescence response based on peak area measurements and the relative response base on peak height measurements obtained using FIA. With regards to the observed reactivity of secondary amines and tertiary amines, chemiluminescence peak area determinations confirmed the vital role of pH on reaction efficiency, which was governed by structural features and kinetics. The tertiary amines investigated generally produced a greater emission under acidic conditions than the corresponding secondary amines. However, the measured chemiluminescence responses were highly dependent upon pH, with similar peak areas obtained for both amine groups under slightly alkaline conditions.

The pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and ergot alkaloids are known natural toxicants found in livestock forage. These alkaloids contribute to large economic losses in livestock throughout the world. An understanding of the mechanisms of toxicity and development of better diagnostic tools for better management practices was investigated. Variability exists in the toxicity of PAs in ruminants where cattle are more susceptible and sheep are more resistant. The mechanism of PA resistance in sheep has been attributed to hepatic metabolism or rumen microbial degradation of PAs to non-toxic moieties. The hepatic metabolism of the PA senecionine was investigated in cattle and sheep liver microsomes. The level of a toxic pyrrole metabolite 6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine pyrrole (DHP) formed in cattle and sheep were similar. However, the level of a non-toxic N-oxide metabolite was greater in sheep than in cattle. Cytochrome P450 and flavin monooxygenases (FMOs) responsible for PA oxidative metabolism were similar in both ruminant species. Therefore, hepatic metabolism of PAs is not solely responsible for resistance observed in sheep versus cattle. Ergot alkaloids present in endophyte-infected plants also cause toxicity in livestock. HPLC is the typical method used to quantify ergot alkaloid content; however, it is costly and time-consuming. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed with lysergol as the hapten was evaluated to ascertain its feasibility as an analytical tool for the ergot alkaloids found in forage plants. The ELISA detected the presence of lysergic acid but was not a reliable assay for the ergopeptine alkaloids such as ergovaline. The genetic divergence in mice previously selected into ergot alkaloid susceptible and resistant lines was studied after ten generations of relaxed selection. Physiologically no difference was seen between the susceptible and resistant line for average daily weight gain. However, hepatic metabolism of the ergot alkaloid ergotamine showed differences between genders and between animals on diets containing no ergot alkaloids or a high concentration of ergot alkaloids. Four major biotransformation products were identified as hydroxylated ergotamine isomers based on mass spectroscopic analysis. / Graduation date: 2003

Graduation date: 1993

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 59 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-64). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Hydroamination stands as a desirable approach to nitrogen-containing molecules, which have important applications ranging from pharmaceuticals (fine chemicals) to paints, coatings, insecticides and agrochemicals (bulk chemicals). It features the use of alkene and alkyne starting materials, which are abundant and rarely used in the formation of C-N bonds. This work aims at building on the improved Cope-type reactivity developed in the Beauchemin group by expanding the reach of the reaction and understanding its mechanistic complexities. The first part of this thesis describes the development of cascade reactions to provide a thermodynamic driving force for the intermolecular Cope-type hydroamination of alkenes. The methodology serves as a proof of concept that the dipolar reaction intermediates can be engineered to further react irreversibly to more stable products, and has shown potential in improving the syntheses of natural alkaloids. The second part of the thesis describes the expansion of Cope-type hydrazide hydroaminations through a systematic investigation of hydrazine analogs as reactants. Optimized reagents are featured in the first reported intermolecular Cope-type hydrohydrazidation of alkenes. Mechanistic investigations and isolation of ammonium ylide intermediates support a 5-membered concerted and planar mechanistic pathway for hydrazide hydroaminations, similar to that observed with hydroxylamines. The final section presents mechanistic data disproving a previously assumed difficult proton transfer step in the hydroamination using hydroxylamines. From such findings, early results are presented towards a hydrogen-bond catalyzed hydroamination, which has potential applicability across the field of Cope-type hydroaminations and beyond.

The pyrrole-imidazole alkaloid family of natural products illustrates the diversity of topographically unique molecules with potent biological activities that can be found in the marine environment. Thus, great interest for this class of compounds has developed leading to new synthetic methodologies and tactics to build these complex secondary metabolites. The overall objectives of this research project include the total synthesis of the phakellins and phakellstatins. First, we revisited the strategy developed in our group for the total synthesis of (+)-dibromophakellstatin and utilized it for the synthesis of its naturally occurring enantiomer and congeners. Second, we proposed and studied a new and more concise approach to the phakellstatins and phakellins based on a key C-H insertion process developed by Du Bois. Attempts to streamline the first synthesis of (+)-dibromophakellstatin proved to be quite challenging. Shortcomings in the reproducibility of some parts of the original strategy precluded us from completing and making more efficient the synthesis of the natural enantiomer (-)-dibromophakellstatin. Fortuitously, our second generation approach though it presented itself as an efficient route to the phakellins and phakellstatins produced the undesired anti diastereomer of the key guanidine intermediate which precluded our study of the pivotal C-H insertion reaction.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1981.

The diastereoselective formal syntheses of the corynanthe alkaloid hirsutine and oxindole alkaloid rhynchophylline are described. The general approach features the use of ring-closing metathesis (RCM) to construct an [alpha],[beta]-unsaturated lactam, which is subjected to 1,4-addition. The lithium enolate of ethyl-1,3-dithiolane-2-carboxylate was identified as the optimal nucleophile in these systems. A key feature of this approach is that the stereochemical outcome of the 1,4-addition can be effectively controlled by appropriately sequencing the indole Boc-protection step to give either the C(3)-H/C(15)-H cis or C(3)-H/C(15)-H trans stereochemical relationship. As a result, we have developed a unified approach to both the "normal" and "pseudo" corynanthe alkaloids. This finding was highlighted through the synthesis of the complete carbon skeleton of the archetypal normal corynanthe alkaloid dihydrocorynantheol. An efficient synthesis of the tricyclic spiroindolinone ABC-fragment of the marine alkaloid citrinadin A has been achieved. The synthesis relies on a novel asymmetric oxidative rearrangement of an indole to an oxindole using a chiral auxiliary on the indole nitrogen to achieve facial selectivity. The transformation proceeds via the epoxidation of the indole C(2),C(3) double bond using DMDO, followed by a silica gelmediated 1,2-epoxide rearrangement. Using this tactic, the spirooxindole of citrinadin A, which contains two adjacent quaternary centers, was formed in high yield and excellent diastereoselectivity. Efforts toward the fragment coupling of the tricyclic spiroindolinone with a 2,4,6-trisubstituted piperidine coupling partner are described. / text

published_or_final_version / Botany / Master / Master of Philosophy