Extensive research work was carried out in past few decades to synthesize new compounds with extended structures by employing various organic linkers and metals. A large number of potential applications of these coordination polymer materials were explored as it contains both inorganic metals as well as organic molecules. The large open pores of coordination polymer compounds were explored for applications such as absorption, separation, and catalysis etc. whereas the framework part provides a model system to study physical properties such as magnetism, luminescence, ferroelectricity etc. We were mainly interested in designing new magnetic materials with extended structures which is the primary objective of this thesis. To study this a systematic investigations are carried out with azide bridged copper(II) compounds. Azide is a versatile ligand which possesses a large number of bridging modes. On the other hand, the coordination flexibility offered by the copper centres makes it to possess diverse coordination number (4-6) as well as geometry. Copper-azide compounds were synthesized at room temperature and the structure was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Structure and magnetic behavior of the copper-azide compounds were studied and discussed here in this thesis. Further, we have studied selective absorption and separation of aliphatic nitrile compounds by employing a two-dimensional interdigitated coordination polymer. In addition, transformation studies of a Ni5 cluster to a Ni9 cluster have also been carried out. Chapter 1 of this thesis presents a brief overview of azide based compounds and summarizes important copper-azide compounds and their magnetic behavior. In chapter 2, synthesis, structure, and magnetic behavior of two-dimensional copper-azide based compounds have been presented. Field dependent magnetic studies were also carried out for all the compounds. Chapter 3 presents the synthesis, structure, and magnetic behavior of copper-azide compounds where 1,2-diaminopropane was employed as a site blocking agent. In chapter 4, the synthesis, structure, and magnetic behavior of two isostructural three-dimensional copper-azides are presented. In chapter 5, synthesis, structure, and magnetic behavior of the azide based one and two-dimensional compounds are presented. Chapter 6 presents synthesis and structure of a two-dimensional inter-digitated coordination polymer compounds. The selective absorption and separation of aliphatic nitriles were also presented in this chapter. In chapter 7, synthesis, structure, and magnetic behavior of Ni clusters are presented. A transformation study to convert a Ni5 cluster to Ni9 cluster was also carried out and presented in this chapter.

The thesis entitled ‘Chemistry of molybdenum xanthate (MoO2[Et2NCS2]2): Applications in organic synthesis’ is presented in 4 chapters. Molybdenum (IV and VI) oxo-complexes are the subject of significant interest due to their functional and structural similarities with several molybdo-enzymes.1 Literature survey suggests that, molybdenum (VI as well as IV) xanthate2 1 resembles the active sites of various molybdo-enzymes. Therefore, in the present thesis, we are presenting our attempts directed towards exploiting molybdenum xanthate 1 in developing various useful methodologies. Figure 1: Molybdenum xanthate Chapter 1 discloses the utility of molybdenum xanthate (1) in catalytic, aerobic oxidation of organic azides and alcohols as presented in part A and B. Part A: A mild molybdenum xanthate catalyzed, chemoselective oxidation of benzylic azides to the corresponding aldehydes3 under aerobic condition is described. This oxidation turned out to be a general method and a variety of benzylic azides were oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes. This oxidation protocol tolerates a variety of functional groups including alcohols, esters, ketones, halides and olefins. More importantly, the oxidation of azides stops at corresponding aldehyde stage without further oxidation to the corresponding carboxylic acids. A few examples are presented in scheme 1. Part B: As our attempts to oxidize alcohols with molybdenum xanthate 1 were unsuccessful (Chapter 1, Part A), we have attempted supporting the reagent 1 and investigated its utility in the oxidation of alcohols. As a consequence, polyaniline supported molybdenum xanthate (MoO2[Et2NCS2]2) is designed and used in an aerobic and mild chemoselective oxidation of alcohols4 to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones. The scheme to use polyaniline as the support for molybdenum xanthate was derived from the fact that polyaniline is known to increase the redox activity of various metal complexes by coordinating to the metal centre.5 The present oxidation strategy tolerates a variety of functional groups such as olefin, ketones, sulfides, tertiary amines, propargyl group etc. This oxidation strategy also works very well for the oxidation of secondary benzylic alcohols. Interestingly, the supported catalyst can be filtered after the reaction and reused for further oxidation without loss of its activity. Some representative examples are presented in Scheme 2. Chapter 2 describes the chemoselective and efficient reduction of azides to the corresponding amines. In this chapter, we have shown that a catalytic amount of molybdenum xanthate (1, MoO2[S2CNEt2]2) with PhSiH3 is an effective catalyst for the reduction of azides to the corresponding amines.6 This reduction of azides by 1, was inspired by the reductive silylation of aldehydes through the activation of silanes.7 This reduction tolerates a variety of reducible functional groups such as olefin, aldehydes, ketones, esters, amides and ethers, acetals etc. This strategy was also extended to various aliphatic azides to synthesize amine and their N-Boc derivatives in good yields. Scheme 3 illustrates few examples. Chapter 3 discloses convenient methods for the synthesis of substituted thiourea derivatives as presented in part A and B. Part A: A convenient method for the synthesis of tri-substituted thiourea derivatives by the reaction of primary amines with molybdenum dialkyl dithiocarbamates is presented in Part A.8 Primary amines on reaction with molybdenum xanthate produce corresponding thioureas in moderate to good yields. Similar reactions with propargylamine and 2-aminoethanol produce cyclic thiaoxazolidine and oxazolidine derivatives respectively. This methodology has been successfully adopted for the synthesis of amino acids derived chiral thioureas. Some examples are presented in Scheme 4. Scheme 4: Molybdenum xanthate mediated synthesis of thioureas Part B: An efficient method for the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical substituted thiourea9 derivatives by simple condensation of amine and carbon disulfide in aqueous medium is extensively studied. Present method describes the involvement of amino dithiol moiety as an intermediate. Though this method is not successful with secondary amines and aryl amines, it works smoothly with aliphatic primary amines to afford various di- and tri-substituted thiourea derivatives. The present method is also useful in synthesizing various substituted 2-mercapto imidazole heterocycles in moderate yields. A few examples are seen in Scheme 5. Scheme 5: Synthesis of thiourea derivatives in aqueous medium Chapter 4 describes a chemoselective deprotection10 of terminal acetonides (isopropylidines) by using aqueous TBHP (70%). A variety of acetonide derivatives on reaction with aq. TBHP in water:t-BuOH (1:1) as solvent mixtures furnish the corresponding acetonide deprotected diol products in good yields. This unprecedented deprotection strategy, tolerates a variety of acid sensitive functional groups such as silyl ether, trityl, olefin, propargyl, methoxymethyl ether, N-Boc, lactones, esters etc. A few examples are documented in Scheme 6. Scheme 6: Chemoselective deprotection of acetonides (For structural formula pl see the pdf file)

Malgré d’intenses recherches, le cancer reste une des causes principales de mortalité dans le monde. Le développement de nouveaux produits actifs pour le traitement des cancers est de plus en plus nécessaire. Nous avons décidé de préparer de nouveaux composés anti-angiogéniques dérivés du composé III.1 (ligand du complexe PDB : 1Y6A) dores et déjà testé cliniquement. Cinq d’entres eux ont pu être synthétisés en utilisant une réaction Click entre un ynamide et un azide. La réaction Click catalysée au cuivre a permis de préparer cinq de nos 1,2,3-triazole cibles avec une excellente régiosélectivité. Bien que l’activité de ces composés soit bien moins importante que celle du composé oxazolique III.1 dont elles sont dérivées, nous avons montré qu’ils sont des ligands spécifiques de VEGFR-2 kinase et qu’elles représentent une nouveauté structurale intéressante dans l’espace très protégé des inhibiteurs de tyrosine kinases. / Despite to the intensively research, cancer is still a leading cause of death worldwide. There are still developed new active compounds for cancer treatment. We have decided to prepare new antiangiogenic drugs based on already clinically tested III.1 from PDB complex 1Y6A. The in Silico-designed 1,2,3-triazole analogues of III.1 were prepared using a Click chemistry approach. In order to accomplish Click reactions two key building blocks: ynamides and azides were mandatory to synthetize. Copper catalyzed Click reactions were performed in very mild condition with quantitative regioselectivity. Five predicted triazolic compounds were prepared and sent for VEGFR-2 biologicall assays. Although the activities of triazolic compounds are significantly lower than the activities of their oxazolic isosters these compounds deliver structural novelty to IP crowded space of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. / Napriek intenzívnemu výskumu, rakovina stále patrí k najčastejším príčinám úmrtia na svete. Neustále sú vyvíjané nové aktívne látky na liečbu rakoviny. Rozhodli sme sa pripraviť nové antiangiogenetické liečivá na základe klinicky testovaného III.1 z PDB komplexu 1Y6A. In Silico navrhnuté 1,2,3-triazolové III.1 analógy boli pripravené prostredníctvom Click chémie. Za účelom uskutočnenia Click reakcie, bolo nevyhnutné pripraviť dva kľúčové stavebné jednotky: ínamidy a azidy. Meďou katalyzované Click reakcie boli uskutočnené vo veľmi jemných podmienkach s kvantitatívnou regioselektivitou. Bolo pripravených päť nových triazolových látok, ktoré boli zaslané na VEGFR-2 biologické testy. Aj keď sú aktivity triazolových derivátov výrazne nižšie ako aktivity oxazolvých izostérov, tak tieto zlúčeniny vnášajú do oblasti tyrozín kinázových inhibítorov, ktorá obsahuje už rôznorodé látky, štruktúrnu originalitu.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Section 1 of this thesis contains an introduction to method development in organic synthesis, multicomponent reactions, sulfonyl azides, tracer development in 11C chemistry and the biological target. Section 2 describes the use of sulfonyl azides in carbonylative chemistry. Paper I covers development of a diazotransfer protocol. In total, 30 arylsulfonyl azides were synthesised from primary sulfonamides (20–90% yield). 15N mechanistic studies were carried out and in Paper II, the products were converted into sulfonamides, sulfonylureas and sulfonyl carbamates (19–90% yield). For ureas and carbamates, a two-chamber protocol was employed to release CO from Mo(CO)6. 15N mechanistic studies showed that the sulfonamides were formed by direct displacement of azide. Section 3 covers imaging and biological studies of the angiotensin II receptor subtype 2 (AT2R). In Paper III, 12 11C-sulfonyl carbamates were prepared in isolated radiochemical yields of 3–51% via Rh(I)-mediated carbonylation. The first non-peptide AT2R agonist, C21, was labelled (isolated RCY 24±10%, SA 34–51 GBq/µmol). C21 was tested in a prostate cancer assay, followed by biodistribution and small-animal PET studies. In Paper IV, a 11C-labelled AT2R ligand prepared via Pd(0)-mediated aminocarbonylation was used for autoradiography, biodistribution and small-animal PET studies.   Section 4 describes the development of a multicomponent method for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones (Paper V). 31 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones were synthesized via a cyclic iminium ion.

Le développement de nouvelles réactions de ligation sélectives, capables de former des liens covalents dans des milieux complexes, est en plein essor depuis une dizaine d’années. Malgré de nombreux efforts, peu de réactions chimiques répondent aux critères de bioorthogonalité et la cycloaddition alcyne-azoture est devenue une réaction bioorthogonale essentielle à la fois pour les chimistes mais aussi pour les biochimistes.Le but de ce travail a été d’améliorer la cinétique de la réaction de cycloaddition alcyne-azoture catalysée par le cuivre, de façon à pouvoir réduire au maximum la quantité de cuivre nécessaire à la réaction et donc son éventuelle toxicité, notamment sur les cellules. Les efforts de recherche menés par de nombreux groupes dans le monde ont porté sur l’augmentation des capacités catalytiques du cuivre (I) par complexation avec des ligands appropriés. Dans un premier temps, à partir de ces résultats, une nouvelle série des ligands du cuivre a été développée au laboratoire et testée dans des milieux aqueux et biologiques. Dans un second temps, nous nous sommes intéressés à une nouvelle stratégie qui consiste à concevoir et synthétiser des azotures chélatants du cuivre. Ces azotures servent à la fois de ligands et de réactifs, et permettent d’accélérer considérablement les vitesses de réaction de la cycloaddition alcyne-azoture en milieu aqueux et en milieu complexe. Ces azotures ont été évalués pour des applications de « fishing » dans lysats cellulaires et sur cellules vivantes. / To improve the kinetic of the CuAAC (Copper Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition) reaction and to overcome the problems of cytotoxicity of copper which preclude many applications in bioconjugation, recent research efforts have focused on the use of appropriate ligands in combination with copper. Indeed, certain ligands can be added to the reaction solution to bind copper, accelerate reaction, prevent the disproportion and slow down the oxygen reaction. During the first part of my PhD, we have synthesized a new library of ligands bearing amines as specific complexing sites for copper. These libraries of ligands were tested on the CuAAC reaction in diluted aqueous media and in complex media through the use of a fluorogenic assays. Ligands developed in the laboratory were compared with known ligands for the CuAAC, described in the literature. In a second part, we envisioned another strategy to accelerate the kinetics of the CuAAC. For that purpose, we synthesized new azides bearing copper complexation sites by introducing in their structure a copper chelating moiety. Those different azides have been tested in the CuAAC reaction with the help of fluorogenic assays, in diluted aqueous media and in cell lysate. Best chelating azides were tested also in “fishing” experiments of proteins in cell lysate and in cells.

Pyrazoles, isoindolinones, benzodizepinones and dihydroquinolinones are very important heterocycles for their biological properties. Many pharmaceutical agents include these units as core structures. Reactive molecules such as acyl azides, free radicals and formyl groups are used as key step reactants in these studies. Regiospesific hydrolysis and esterifications are used to reach target starting materials. Two different methodology are used for critical ring closure steps. Benzodiazepinones, and isoindolinones are obtained by base mediated ring closure reactions whereas thionyl chloride mediated procedure is used for dihydroquinolinones. Moreover, chloroacetonylation of the double bonds is also examined. Addition of acetylacetone to various alkenes was performed with in the presence of Mn(OAc)3 and HCl. Removal of one of the acetyl groups with ammonia under very mild conditions provided compounds derived from chloroacetonylation of the double bonds.

This thesis describes research conducted since September 2006 in Prof. Robert Batey’s laboratory. The thesis is divided into four chapters. Chapter one presents a general introduction of domino reactions, sigmatropic rearrangements, and the allylic azide rearrangement. Several factors affecting the allylic azide rearrangement along with some respective examples are presented. Chapter two describes an efficient synthesis of azido unsaturated ester compounds using a microwave-assisted domino allylic azide / Johnson-Claisen rearrangement. The domino rearrangement reaction proceeds to give the azido ester compounds in good yield and excellent diastereoselectivity. The synthesis of vinyl epoxides and hydroxy allylic azides starting materials are also presented. In addition, other variants of Claisen rearrangements are briefly discussed. Chapter three describes a microwave-assisted domino allylic azide / Overman rearrangement process. The scope of the domino rearrangements, including an example involving an enantioenriched compound, is presented. The product of the domino rearrangements can be used as precursors to 1,2-vicinal diamines. Several functional group transformations and potential application of the product of the domino rearrangement are also described. Chapter four provides the synthesis of cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines from domino reduction / cyclization of γ-azido-α,β-unsaturated ketones. The overall process involves hydrogenation of the alkene and the azido group, followed by intramolecular cyclization and loss of H2O to form an imine, which is further reduced to give cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines. The reaction proceeds cleanly to give the products in high yield and with a very high diastereoselectivity ratio. In addition, the formation of pyrrolidinones via domino reduction / cyclication of γ-azido esters are also reported

This thesis describes research conducted since September 2006 in Prof. Robert Batey’s laboratory. The thesis is divided into four chapters. Chapter one presents a general introduction of domino reactions, sigmatropic rearrangements, and the allylic azide rearrangement. Several factors affecting the allylic azide rearrangement along with some respective examples are presented. Chapter two describes an efficient synthesis of azido unsaturated ester compounds using a microwave-assisted domino allylic azide / Johnson-Claisen rearrangement. The domino rearrangement reaction proceeds to give the azido ester compounds in good yield and excellent diastereoselectivity. The synthesis of vinyl epoxides and hydroxy allylic azides starting materials are also presented. In addition, other variants of Claisen rearrangements are briefly discussed. Chapter three describes a microwave-assisted domino allylic azide / Overman rearrangement process. The scope of the domino rearrangements, including an example involving an enantioenriched compound, is presented. The product of the domino rearrangements can be used as precursors to 1,2-vicinal diamines. Several functional group transformations and potential application of the product of the domino rearrangement are also described. Chapter four provides the synthesis of cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines from domino reduction / cyclization of γ-azido-α,β-unsaturated ketones. The overall process involves hydrogenation of the alkene and the azido group, followed by intramolecular cyclization and loss of H2O to form an imine, which is further reduced to give cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines. The reaction proceeds cleanly to give the products in high yield and with a very high diastereoselectivity ratio. In addition, the formation of pyrrolidinones via domino reduction / cyclication of γ-azido esters are also reported

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-147) Also available in print.