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Chromone and flavanone derivatives were prepared by condensation of the corresponding 2-hydroxyacetophenones (with diethyl oxalate or the appropriate aromatic aldehyde respectively) and cyclisation of the condensation products. Saeyer-Villiger rearrangement of these flavanones, with MCPBA, resulted in expansion of the C-ring. Spectroscopic techniques have been used to establish the regioselectivity of the rearrangement and hence, the identity of the rearranged products as 1,5-benzodioxepan-4-ones. The 1,5-benzodioxepan-4-ones were subjected to detailed ¹H and ¹³C n.m.r. analysis and a combination of low and high resolution mass spectrometry has been used to study the mass fragmentation pathways of these ring-expanded products.

The Baylis-Hillman reaction between substituted salicylaldehydes and various acrylate species has been shown to afford complex reaction mixtures, careful chromatography of which has led to the isolation of an extensive range of novel compounds. One- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic, mass spectrometric and X-ray crystallographic analysis of these compounds have permitted identification of no less than eight general classes of chromene and coumarin derivatives. The formation of the various product types is attributed to cascades of successive reactions stemming, in each case, from a Baylis-Hillman product as the common intermediate. The mechanistic sequence involved in the formation of the various chromene and coumarin derivatives have been elucidated by examining isolated or specifically prepared compounds as putative reaction intermediates. Conjugate addition and acyl or allylic substitution by various nucleophiles appear to be common processes in the formation of the chromene and coumarin derivatives, and studies focussing on these processes have been undertaken. Reactions of Baylis-Hillman adducts have been carried out, using oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen nucleophiles, in order to explore stereoselectivity and regioselectivity trends. The results show that the reactions proceed with a very high degree of regioselectivity, affording conjugate addition rather than acyl substitution products. The diastereoselectivity observed for the addition products, however was typically low. A kinetic study to explore the regioselectivity of the reaction between various Baylis-Hillman derived halogeno esters and the nucleophile, methyl 3-oxobutanolate enloate, in two different base-solvent systems at high dilution was also undertaken. The reactions were monitored by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and the results revealed that the reaction kinetics are more complex than originally anticipated. A mechanistic rationalisation is offered which is consistent with both the kinetic data and the observed regioselectivity trends.

This study has focussed on several aspects of chromone chemistry, viz., (i) the influence of remote substituents on the basicity of 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)chromones, (ii) MoritaBaylis-Hillman reactions of substituted chromone-3-carbaldehydes and (iii) an investigation into the application of chromone chemistry in the total synthesis of the marine natural product, Rietone A. Selected 2-(N,N-dimethylamino )chromones were prepared using two different methods; firstly, via cyclisation of salicylate-derived N,N-dimethyl-3;.(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3- oxopropanamide precursors and, secondly, via 2-hydroxyacetophenone boron difluoride complexes. ¹³C NMR analysis of the 6- and 7-methoxy-2-(N,N-dimethylamino)chromones confirmed that protonation occurs at the chromone carbonyl oxygen rather than the amino nitrogen - a conclusion supported by mol~cular orbital calculations. Potentiometric analysis of 2-(N,N-dimethylamino )chromones in ethanol-water afforded pKa (pK [subscript a]) values in the range 2.22 - 2.52. The observed trend has been rationalised in terms of substituent effects with the aid of molecular orbital calculations at the semi-empirical and ab initio levels, while hydrogen-bonding effects have been used to account for the apparently anomalous result obtained for the 6-nitro derivative. A series of seven substituted chromone-3-carbaldehydes, prepared by the application of Vilsmeier-Haack methodology to the corresponding 2-hydroxyacetophenones, have been examined as substrates for Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions, using DABCO as the catalyst and three different activated alkenes, viz., methyl acrylate, methyl vinyl ketone and acrylonitrile. In all cases, with the exception of 6-nitrochromone-3-carbaldehyde, the reactions have been shown to afford the expected Morita-Baylis-Hillman products. Use of methyl acrylate and methyl vinyl ketone as the activated alkene has been observed to afford additional, unprecedented dimeric products, which have been unambiguously characterised using a combination of single crystal X-ray analysis and spectroscopic (high resolution MS and NMR) techniques. Different dimer-like adducts have been isolated from reactions in which acrylonitrile was used as the activated alkene, and the structures of these novel products have-been determined <spectroscopically. Tentative mechanistic rationalisations for the formation of the "dimeric" products have been presented. Optimisation studies, aimed at improving the yields of the Morita-Baylis-Hillman products, have resulted in significant increases in conversion efficiency (up to 95%). It has also been shown that the Morita-Baylis-Hillman products may be readily converted to the corresponding "dimers". An exploratory study into the synthesis of Rietone A has been initiated. Ring-opening of a chromone derivative was expected to provide access to the aromatic moiety, while retrosynthetic analysis of the aliphatic side chain suggested possible strategies for its construction. These approaches have proved largely unsuccessful, but preliminary studies involving Fries rearrangement of 4-(carbomethoxymethyl)phenyl 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienoate appear to hold some promise for future development.

A range of chromone-2-carboxylic acids has been prepared by condensing suitably substituted 2-hydroxyacetophenones with diethyl oxalate. pK₂ Studies of these acids revealed that 6- or 7-methoxy substituents decreased acidity while the 6-nitro group enhanced acidity; the strongest acid was the 3-chloro derivative, the increase in acidity being attributed to steric inhibition of acid-weakening delocalisation between the carboxyl group and the chromone system. Various chromone-2-carboxamides, derived from acid chloride precursors, were converted to polysubstituted acrylamides by nucleophilic ring-opening with selected amine nucleophiles. The main fragmentation patterns exhibited by these acrylamides were elucidated using a combination of low resolution, high resolution and meta-stable peak analysis, while the effect of substituents on the simultaneous internal rotation involving the carboxamide and enamine moieties were studied using dynamic NMR spectroscopy. Rotational barriers of ca. 67.1 kJmol ̄¹ and ca. 102 kJmol ̄¹ were found for the enamine and amide rotors, respectively. Several synthetic pathways were followed to prepare a series of 2-(N,N-dialkylamino)chromones which were subjected to detailed mass spectral analysis. In addition to substituent-specific fragmentations , the 2-aminochromones appear to fragment via 3 major pathways. The effect of substituents on the internal rotation of the amino moeity was investigated by variable temperature ¹H NMR spectroscopy and the resulting DNMR data was used to calculate the rotational barriers. Examination of the data reveals that the electron-releasing 6- and 7- substituents reduce the C-NMe₂ rotational barrier to ca. 43.5 kJmol ̄¹ , while the nitro analogue has the largest rotational barrier (ca. 46.1 kJmol ̄¹) because of the electron-withdrawing effect of this substituent.

The Knoevenagel reaction is defined by the condensation of an aldehyde or ketone with a carbon nucleophile produced by the deprotonation of a methylene species whose acidity is dramatically increased by bonds to strongly electron withdrawing groups. Previously, our group developed an effective one-pot method for the preparation of 4H-chromenes using sodium borohydride reduction of the cyclized intermediates formed by the Knoevenagel condensation of malononitrile with salicylaldehydes in aqueous ethanol. In this study we outline the extension of these strategies to include 2’-hydoxyphenylketones as the starting material. Many of these compounds are also unique and were prepared by Friedel-Crafts acylation of phenols with acyl chlorides and/or Fries Rearrangement of the corresponding phenyl ester. The objective of this project has been to expand the application of the methods optimized in our lab for the simple and efficient formation of carbon-carbon bonds via the selective reduction of the alkylidene portion of the Knoevenagel reaction products. These methods have allowed for the production of several important classes of natural product-like compounds. Specifically, in this investigation, we have adapted these methods to the production of various 4-alkyl and 4-aryl substituted 3-amino-2-cyano-4H-chromenes. These types of molecules exhibit diverse pharmacological activity and have been shown to be potentially useful for the treatment of various diseases. A subset of the synthesized compounds will be submitted to Eli Lilly through their PD2 program. Further variation of substrates included the reaction of salicylaldehydes with ethyl cyanoacetate or cyanoacetamide which provided products unreported in the literature. Reactions with cyanoacetates gave the expected 3-carboethoxy(ester) functionalized 4H-chromene compounds. Products from cyanoacetamide were found to occur in open rather than cyclized forms. / Introduction and background literature -- Synthesis of 2'-hydroxyphenylketones -- Synthesis of 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-chromenes -- One pot method applied to salicylaldehydes with ethylcyanoacetate or cyanoacetamide. / Department of Chemistry

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

This thesis deals with the applications of organopalladium and organochromium chemistry to the functionalisation of the benzopyran ring system, at a variety of oxidation levels. Section I demonstrates the functionalisation of 3-, 6-, and 8-bromochromones via palladium (0) insertion into the C-Br bond. The resultant arylpalladium species are shown to undergo addition to the least substituted end of a variety of olefins including methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile and styrene. Subsequent palladium-hydride elimination leads to overall palladium catalysed vinylation of the chromone and the synthesis of a number of novel compounds. Vinylation occurs regiospecifically at the site of chromone bromination and is shown to allow clean substituent introduction into each of the three sites. The palladium catalysed reaction of 3,6-dibromo-chromone with methyl acrylate leads to vinylation at both the C3 and C6 positions. Carbonylation of the 6-bromochromone in ethanol or butanol leads to the 6-ethyl or 6-butyl esters respectively. The palladium catalysed vinylation of the 6-bromochromone with ethyl vinyl ether leads to a mixture of products from addition of the chromone to either end of the olefin. With p-bromophenol or p-bromo-N,N-dimethylaniline the reaction gives exclusively the acetylated product arising from addition to the more substituted end of the olefin. This change in orientation is rationalised by considering the polarisation of the olefin and the arylpalladium species. Section II demonstrates the functionalisation of chroman and 4-chromanol via coordination to the Cr(CO)₃ moiety. (η⁶-Chroman)Cr(CO)₃ is synthesised and is shown to undergo regiospecific ring deprotonation at C8 under kinetic conditions or regiospecific benzylic deprotonation at C4 under thermodynamic conditions. The resultant anions are quenched with alkyl halides, aldehydes, Eschenmoser's salt and methyl disulphide resulting in selective functionalisation of either site. No mixed products are observed. The uncomplexed arene is shown to be totally unreactive under identical conditions. (η⁶-4-Chromanol)Cr(CO)₃ is synthesised and is shown to undergo regiospecific C8 ring deprotonation by comparison with authentic samples of the C5 and C8 methylated alcohols. Protection of the hydroxyl group as its methyl, t-butyldimethylsilyl or methoxymethyl ethers is found not to alter the regiochemistry of deprotonation. The 4-chromanol t-butyldimethylsilyl and tri-i-propylsilyl ethers are synthesised and coordinated to the metal unit. Cleavage of the silyl ethers is shown to proceed with loss of stereochemistry, indicating C-0 bond cleavage.

A number of biologically active chromones occur in plants (eg. Khellin) and research in this field has eventually led to the discovery of chromoglycic acid, which is widely used as a sodium salt in asthma therapy. Since biological activity may be related to acidity, a range of chromone-2-carboxylic acids have been prepared via Claisen acylation of substituted o- hydroxyacetophenones and their acid dissociation constants determined potentiometrically to explore substituent effects. From this study it has been found that introduction of certain groups does have a marked effect on acidity. A variety of acrylamide derivatives have been prepared via the dimethylamine-mediated ring opening of chromone-2-carboxamides which, in turn, were prepared from the chromone-2- carboxylic acids via the corresponding acid chlorides. Variable temperature NMR spectroscopy was employed to examine the effect of substituents on the rotational barriers and it has been found that for the acrylamides examined, ring substituents have little effect on the rotational barriers. A combination of low resolution, high resolution and meta-stable peak analysis has been used to study mass fragmentation patterns for a series of acrylamide derivatives. The proposed fragmentation pathways for selected peaks have been found to be common to all the spectra examined when differences in the atomic masses of substituents were taken into account.

Aproximadamente vinte espécies do gênero Hypericum (Guttiferae) têm ocorrência natural no Brasil, e concentram-se principalmente na região Sul do País. Considerando a importância deste gênero como fonte de substâncias com variadas atividades biológicas, tais como analgésica, antidepressiva, antimicrobiana, antiviral, antiproliferativa, entre outras, o presente trabalho teve como objetivos analisar a constituição química e o potencial antioxidante de espécies de Hypericum, desenvolver protocolos para manutenção de algumas espécies nativas através de culturas de tecidos e células e validar metodologia para quantificação de benzopiranos em H. polyanthemum proveniente de cultivo a campo, in vitro e aclimatizado. Utilizando-se métodos cromatográficos e espectroscópicos, foram isolados e identificados o ácido fenólico ácido 5-O-cafeoil-1-metoxi-quínico e os flavonóides 3,7-dimetil-quercetina, 3-Ometil- quercetina, I3,II8-biapigenina, guaijaverina, isoquercitrina e hiperosídeo, todos derivados da quercetina e obtidos da fração acetato de etila das partes aéreas de H. ternum. Ainda desta espécie, porém da fração n-hexano das raízes, obteve-se o derivado de floroglucinol uliginosina B. De H. myrianthum foram isolados e identificados os flavonóides quercetina e hiperosídeo, da fração metanólica das partes aéres, bem como os derivados de floroglucinol japonicina A e uliginosina B, fração n-hexano das raízes. Através do método colorimétrico de Folin-Ciocalteau, foram quantificados os teores de fenólicos totais das espécies H. caprifoliatum, H. carinatum, H. myrianthum e H. polyanthemum, verificando-se teores variando entre 37,40 a 228,36 mg EQ/g de extrato seco. Utilizando as técnicas de TRAP (Total Radical-trapping Antioxidant Parameter), ORAC-PGV (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) e reação bioautográfica e espectrofotométrica com radicais DPPH• (2,2 difenil-1-picril-hidrazil) evidenciou-se que extratos brutos metanólicos, e frações metanólicas e n-hexânicas das espécies H. caprifoliatum, H. carinatum H. myrianthum e H. polyanthemum, bem como produtos isolados de espécies de Hypericum nativas do Estado apresentam potencial antioxidante. A regeneração in vitro foi obtida em meio Murashige & Skoog modificado (MΔ) para as espécies H. campestre, H. caprifoliatum, H. carinatum, H. myrianthum, H. polyanthemum e H. ternum utilizando diferentes combinações e concentrações dos reguladores de crescimento 6-benzilamino-purina (BAP), ácido naftaleno-acético (ANA) e ácido 2,4 dicloro-fenóxi-acético (2,4-D). Plântulas dessas espécies foram posteriormente aclimatizadas com sucesso, sendo cultivadas a campo. As espécies micropropagadas demonstraram perfis químicos qualitativamente similares aos apresentados pelas plantas desenvolvidas no campo, de modo que o cultivo in vitro apresenta-se como uma alternativa interessante aos métodos convencionais de produção de biomassa para extração de metabólitos secundários bioativos. Culturas de calos foram estabelecidas em meio MΔ para H. myrianthum, H. polyanthemum e H. ternum, utilizando diferentes combinações e concentrações dos reguladores de crescimento cinetina (CIN), BAP, ANA e 2,4-D. Considerando-se as importantes atividades biológicas de produtos obtidos de H. polyanthemum foi estabelecida uma metodologia para quantificação, através da técnica de CLAE, de benzopiranos no extrato apolar desta planta, espécie de ocorrência restrita. A validação analítica foi avaliada conforme o preconizado por normas reconhecidas internacionalmente, com análise dos parâmetros linearidade, seletividade, precisão (repetibilidade e precisão intermediária), exatidão e limites de detecção e quantificação, demonstrando resultados coerentes com os exigidos pela legislação vigente. Foram evidenciadas variações no teor de benzopiranos na planta micropropagada, aclimatizada e desenvolvida a campo, provavelmente devido a fatores, que vão desde a regulação endógena de processos fisiológicos até variações sazonais no cultivo. / Approximately twenty species of Hypericum genus (Guttiferae) are native of Brazil, occurring mainly in the South region. Considering the importance of the genus as a source of compounds with different biological activities, such as analgesic, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiproliferative, among others, the objectives of this work were to evaluate the phytochemistry and antioxidant potential of some Hypericum species, to develop protocols for the maintenance of the species through in vitro cultures and to validate a technique to quantify the benzopyrans in H. polyanthemum grown in field, in vitro and acclimatized plants. Chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques were used for the isolation and identification of the phenolic acid 5-O-caffeoyl-1-methyl ester-quinic acid and the flavonoids quercetin 3,7-dimethyl ether, quercetin 3-methyl ether, I3,II8-biapigenin, guaijaverin, isoquercitrin and hyperoside, all of them quercetin derivatives and obtained from ethyl acetate fraction of H. ternum aerial parts. From n-hexane fraction of the roots of this species the phloroglucinol derivative uliginosin B was obtained. The flavonoids quercetin and hyperoside (from aerial parts of methanolic fraction), and the phloroglucinol derivatives japonicin A and uliginosin B (from n-hexane fraction of roots) were isolated from H. myrianthum. Total phenol concentration ranging from 37.40 to 228.36 mg QE/g dry extract (Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric method) in H. caprifoliatum, H. carinatum, H. myrianthum and H. polyanthemum was measured. The antioxidant potential of the extracts obtained from H. caprifoliatum, H. carinatum, H. myrianthum and H. polyanthemum and isolated compounds was determined using TRAP (Total Radicaltrapping Antioxidant Parameter), ORAC-PGR (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) and bioautographic and spectrofotometric reaction with DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl radical techniques. In vitro regeneration of H. campestre, H. caprifoliatum, H. carinatum, H. myrianthum, H. polyanthemum and H. ternum was obtained in Murashige & Skoog modified medium (MΔ) supplemented with differents combinations and concentrations of the growth regulators 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), α-naphthalene acetic acid (ANA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Plantlets were acclimatizated and transferred to open field. The micropropagated species showed chemical pattern qualitatively similar to field grown plants, demonstrating that the in vitro cultures are an alternative to conventional methods for biomass production of bioactive secondary metabolites. Callus cultures of H. myrianthum, H. polyanthemum and H. ternum were established in MΔ medium using different combinations and concentrations of kinetin (CIN), BAP, ANA and 2,4-D. Considering the important biological activities of the benzopyrans isolated from H. polyanthemum, an HPLC quantification methodology was established. Analytical validation was performed according to international rules (linearity, selectivity, precision, accuracy, detection and quantitation limits) showing results coherent with those required by the current legislation. Variation of the benzopyrans concentration was observed among the micropropagated plantlet, acclimatizated and field grown plants, probably due to factors as endogenous regulation of physiological process and seasonal variation of the culture.