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N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) are utilized for the stabilization of reactive compounds, for the activation of strong bonds, and as ligands in transition metal chemistry. In contrast to neutral NHCs, few examples of anionic or even dianionic NHCs are known. One approach for the synthesis of anionic carbenes is the deprotonation of neutral or anionic precursors, bearing Lewis acids instead of alkyl or aryl substituents. Following this strategy, novel anionic and dianionic NHCs, featuring weakly coordinating fluorinated borane and phosphorane substituents or coordinating tricyanoborane substituents were synthesized within the scope of this thesis. These carbenes possess unprecedented stabilities compared to related species. Furthermore, their electronic and steric properties can be directly adjusted by the type of Lewis acid attached. Their potential as ligands with highly shielding weakly coordinating substituents next to the carbene coordination center was demonstrated by the syntheses of the respective NHC selenium adducts and NHC gold(I) complexes. In contrast anionic NHCs with coordinating tricyanoborane moieties have an outstanding potential as ditopic ligands with coordination being possible at the carbene center and via the cyano groups. Their beneficial ligand properties were demonstrated by the syntheses of the respective NHC selenium adducts and NHC nickeltricarbonyl complexes. The combination of electronic properties, the large buried volume, the negative charge, the possibility to act as ditopic or ligands with weakly coordinating groups, and the ease of accessibility render borane- and phosphorane functionalized NHCs unique novel ligands. A further project of this PhD thesis deals with the steric properties of Lewis acids. Therefore, an easy-to-apply model was designed to quantify the steric demand of Lewis acids. Using the results of this evaluation, a second model was developed which judges the steric repulsion in Lewis acid/base adduct formation for arbitrary sets of acids and bases. / N-heterozyklische Carbene (NHC) werden für die Stabilisierung reaktiver Verbindungen, für die Aktivierung starker Bindungen sowie als Liganden in der Übergangsmetallchemie eingesetzt. Im Gegensatz zu neutralen NHCs sind nur sehr wenige Vertreter anionischer oder gar dianionischer NHCs bekannt. Eine gute Strategie für deren Synthese stellt die Deprotonierung neutraler oder anionischer Vorstufen dar, welche Lewis-Säuren an Stelle von Alkyl- oder Arylsubstituenten tragen. Dieser Route folgend, wurden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit neue anionische und dianionische NHCs dargestellt, welche mit schwach koordinierenden, fluorierten Boran- und Phosphoransubstituenten oder mit koordinierenden Tricyanoboraneinheiten funktionalisiert sind. Diese Carbene besitzen beispiellose Stabilitäten, verglichen mit verwandten Verbindungen. Darüber hinaus können deren elektronischen und sterischen Eigenschaften direkt über die Wahl der Lewis-Säure gesteuert werden. Das Potential der Liganden mit stark abschirmenden schwach koordinierenden Substituenten in Nachbarschaft zum Carbenzentrum wurde durch die Synthese von NHC-Selen-Verbindungen sowie NHC-Gold(I)komplexen gezeigt. Im Gegensatz hierzu besitzen anionische NHCs mit koordinierenden Tricyanoboraneinheiten ein herausragendes Potential als ditope Liganden, da eine Koordination sowohl über das Carbenzentrum als auch über die Cyanogruppen möglich ist. Diese Vorteilhaften Ligandeneigenschaften wurden durch die Synthese entsprechender NHC-Selen-Addukte und NHC-Nickeltricarbonylkomplexe gezeigt. Somit macht die Kombination der elektronischen Eigenschaften, des großen verdeckten Volumens, der negativen Ladung, der Möglichkeit als ditoper Ligand oder als Ligand mit schwach koordinierenden Gruppen zu fungieren sowie die einfache Zugänglichkeit Boran- und Phosphoran-funktionalisierte NHCs zu einzigartigen neuartigen Liganden. Ein weiterer Teil dieser Arbeit setzt sich mit dem sterischen Anspruch von Lewis-Säuren auseinander. Hierfür wurde ein einfach anwendbares Modell entworfen, welches diesen quantifiziert. Ausgehend von diesen Ergebnissen wurde ein zweites Modell entwickelt, welches die sterische Abstoßung zwischen Lewis-Säure/Base-Addukten für beliebige Säure/Base-Kombinationen beurteilt.

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Ergothioneine and ovothiol A are naturally occurring thiol-histidine derivatives. Both of them are suggested to be beneficial to human health. Ergothioneine has anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative properties and ovothiol has anti-proliferative activities. Recently, ergothioneine has been suggested to be also linked to lifespan longevity. For these reasons, there is a need to investigate the mechanisms of ergothioneine and ovothiol biosynthesis is appealing. My thesis work has addressed this gap in knowledge, focusing on the mechanistic investigations of two C-S bond formation enzymes: EanB in anaerobic ergothioneine biosynthesis, and OvoA in ovothiol biosynthesis. Chapter 1 provides an overview of sulfur-containing metabolites, including the metabolism, potential biological functions, and biosynthesis of several key sulfur containing natural products. Chapter 2 contains my initial investigations into EanB catalysis, namely the original sulfur source for this enzyme. We demonstrated that the polysulfide (HSSnSR) is the direct sulfur source in EanB catalysis. With the discovery of the unique sulfur source, we then probed how EanB uses polysulfide for catalysis. A few reaction intermediate states were successfully characterized by X-ray crystallography and the proposed reaction mechanisms were further evaluated by QM/MM calculation. In Chapter 3, we evaluated the involvement of a proposed carbene intermediate involved in EanB catalysis by the deuterium exchange experiments with hercynine. In addition, using 3,5-difluoro-tyrosine containing EanB produced through amber suppressor method, we have also kinetically characterize the deuterium-exchange reaction. Chapter 4 reports the biochemical characterization of an OvoA homolog, OvoAMtht, from a mesophilic organism. OvoAMtht has dual activities: sulfoxide synthase and cysteine dioxygenase. In addition, I have demonstrated that both substrates and the active site iron’s secondary coordination shell residues exert exquisite control to OvoAMtht dual activities, which makes OvoAMtht an excellent system for future structure-function relationship studies for this class of enzymes. In summary, my thesis has laid the foundation for future detailed mechanistic investigations of the C-S bond formation reactions in both anaerobic ergothioneine biosynthetic and ovothiol aerobic biosynthetic pathways.

The combination of Lewis acidic f-block metals and a labile nucleophilic carbene can be an excellent means to activate small molecules such as silanes, CO2 and other traditionally inert substrates. Furthermore, bidentate alkoxy-NHC ligands have shown promise in the support of unusual high oxidation state organometallic complexes, including examples of CeIV, PdIV and UVI. In this thesis the synthesis and reactivity of a series of f-block metal NHC complexes is described. Chapter One introduces N-heterocyclic carbenes and their f-block metal complexes, in particular of cerium, praseodymium and uranium. Furthermore, it will give an overview of small molecule activation by NHCs, lanthanides and specifically [Ce(LAr)N"], (L = OC(CH3)2CH2(CNCH2CH2NMes) the magnetic properties and use of lanthanides e.g. as single molecule magnets and oxo-functionalisation of the uranyl moiety. Chapter Two describes the addition-elimination reaction chemistry of CeIII and UIV NHC complexes in which polar reagents add in a heterocyclic fashion across the MNHC bond. It also describes the synthesis of the lithium salt of the alkoxycarbene proligand [LiLAr]4 and its reactivity towards f-element halide and aryloxide salts. A series of reactions to target the formation of metal-metal bonds is described. Chapter Three focuses on the synthesis of novel cerium and praseodymium complexes [Pr(LAr)N"2], [Pr(LAr)2N"], [Pr(OAr2,6-tBu)3] and [Ce(OAr2,6-tBu)3] and their reactivity towards oxidants. A series of alkoxide bridged lanthanide dimers [(Cl)Ce(μ- LAr)2Ce(Cl)2], [N"(LAr)Ce(μ-OAr2,6-tBu)OAr2,6- 2Ce(LAr)N"] and [N"(Cl)Pr(μ LAr)2Pr(Cl)N"] have been made and characterised including by SQUID variable temperature magnetometry. Chapter Four evaluates the synthesis and reactivity of uranyl complexes [UO2(LAr)2], [UO2N"2(py)2] and [UO2(OAr2,6-tBu)2(py)2], specifically their reactivity towards haloboranes in different solvents. Additionally, the oxo-functionalisation of uranyl compounds with haloboranes is discussed. Chapter Five draws conclusions and provides a summary of the work presented. Chapter Six comprises the experimental details and analytical data.

Chapter one is an introduction to the less common coordination and oxidation chemistry of palladium; complexes containing Pd-OR, Pd-NR2 and those in the oxidation states of +IV. An outline of PdII/IV catalysed ligand-directed oxidative functionalisation is also included. Chapter two covers the design and synthesis of a range of tethered N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of Pd. In addition, the syntheses of a number of new tethered NHC ligands are described. The use of Density Functional Theory (DFT) to model the complexes in this thesis was explored. Chapter three describes the synthesis and characterisation of PdIV halide complexes. The relevance of these compounds to PdII/IV catalysed ligand-directed oxidative functionalisation is explored. DFT was used to probe the reaction pathway for N-bromosuccinimide and iodobenzene dichloride. Chapter four examines reactions with oxidants used to form C-O and C-C bonds. The reaction pathway for iodobenzene diacetate was investigated using DFT. Chapter five contains experimental details and characterising data for the compounds reported.

Gas phase studies of organometallic systems have provided deep insight into reaction mechanisms and reaction intermediates. In this thesis, several metal/ligand systems were examined in an effort to form metal carbenes in the gas phase. With cobalt and iron porphyrins, the carbene undergoes metal-ligand insertion. With copper bis-oxazolines, metal carbenes tend to undergo metal-ligand insertion and a Wolff rearrangement. To avoid insertions, we turned to a rigid ligand, 1, 10-phenanthroline. Under ESI conditions, a copper (I) complex with phenanthroline can be formed. When treated with diazoacetate esters, the dominant product results from addition with loss of nitrogen followed by loss of CO. This appears to be the result of a Wolff rearrangement of the metal carbene to give a metal ketene complex that spontaneously loses CO. There is no evidence of any stable metal carbenes in this reaction system. Trimethylsilyldiazomethane was also used as a carbene precursor, and its reaction with the copper phenanthroline complex gives addition with loss of nitrogen; but the product exhibits no carbene reactivity with alkenes. Here computational modeling suggests that the metal carbene undergoes a 1, 2 methyl migration, giving an exceptionally stable sila-alkene complex with the copper. As an alternative path to a metal carbene, we have used ESI to form a complex between the copper (I) phenanthroline and betaine (N, N, N-trimethylglycine). Under CID, this complex wills decarboxylates to give a copper ylide complex. Further CID leads to loss of trimethylamine and the formation of a complex between methylene and the copper phenanthroline. Depending on the CID conditions, two isobaric products are formed. One exhibits no carbene reactivity and the other readily gives carbene behavior with alkenes. The former is likely a metal-ligand insertion product, and the latter is the true metal carbene species. We explored the reactions of the carbene with electron-rich alkenes, such as ethyl vinyl ether and 3, 4-dihydro-2H-pyran, and electron-deficient alkenes, such as trichloroethylene.

Ce travail de thèse est consacré à l’étude de la réactivité du spirosilane de Martin, une molécule présentant des propriétés intéressantes notamment en présence de bases de Lewis, qui a trouvé des applications diverses comme la détection d’ions fluorures. En ce qui nous concerne, nous avons choisi d’étudier l’interaction de ce dérivé du silicium avec des bases de Lewis neutres fortes tels que les Carbènes N-Hétérocycliques (NHC) qui ont été beaucoup utilisés pour stabiliser les espèces de basse valence des éléments du bloc p. Alors que les NHC sont connus pour former avec les chlorosilanes des adduits pentacoordinés stables, aucun exemple avec des silanes non halogénés n’avaient été décrits avant notre étude. Nous avons montré qu’en fonction de l’encombrement stérique des NHC étudiés, ils forment avec le spirosilane de Martin des adduits de Lewis normaux et anormaux stables. Les propriétés « Paires de Lewis Frustrées » (FLP) du spirosilane avec des NHC encombrés ont été examinées ainsi que l’accès à des nouveaux ligands NHC anioniques portant un motif siliconate. / This thesis work is focused on the reactivity of Martin’s Spirosilane, a molecule that displays some interesting properties in particular with different Lewis base, founding some interesting application such us fluoride sensor. In our study, we have chosen N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) because they are well known for stabilising low-valence states of p-block elements or for disclosing new reactivities. Besides, NHC are known to form relatively stable adducts with tetravalent halosilanes and also to stabilise silicon(0) species through potassium graphite reductions, but, to the best of our knowledge, no pentacoordinated NHC-adducts with a non-halogenated silane partner has been synthesised to date.The first part of my PhD was focused on the update of Martin’s spirosilane synthesis due to some problem of reproducibility with the known procedure. Once obtained the product, it was begun the investigation of the interaction with different NHC carbene that afforded the corresponding adducts that were fully characterised. The different adducts were then studied as potential Frustrated Lewis Pair and as precursors of anionic-type ligands for the metal's coordination.

L’objectif de la thèse était la préparation et la caractérisation des catalyseurs hétérogènes à base de polyoxométalates. L’étude mécanistique d’oxydation du méthane jusqu’au méthanol a montré que sur des polyoxométalates supportés sur la silice l’activation C-H a lieu déjà à la température ambiante. L’adsorption du méthane-13C sur H4SiMo12O40 supporté, suivie par RMN solide a mis en évidence la création de l’espèce méthoxy [SiMo12O40(CH3)]3-. Le cycle catalytique est complété par l’hydrolyse de cette espèce - méthanol est formé et une molécule de l’eau recrée la structure du départ de polyoxométalate. L’adsorption du méthanol-13C sur des polyoxométalates a montré la création de deux types des espèces methoxy, localisées sur des atomes d’oxygènes terminaux ou pontants est caractérisées par deux signaux RMN distincts – à 58 et 77 ppm, respectivement. En greffant un complexe de platine PtMe2COD sur les sels de césium de polyoxometalates, le dégagement du méthane ou de la mélange du méthane et de l’éthane a été observé et expliqué par la séquence de l’addition oxydative du proton de polyoxometalate au centre métallique, couplage C-H ou C-C et finalement l’élimination réductrice et libération d’une molécule de gaz. Sels d’ammonium de l’acide phosphotungstique H3PW12O40 ont été montrées de catalyser l’isomérisation du n-butane a l’isobutane dans des conditions douces (225°C, 1 atm.). Composé du cuivre Cu(OTf)2 sur la surface des sels inorganiques des polyoxometalates donne des catalyseurs très actifs en insertion des carbènes aux liaisons C-H des éthers cycliques. / The aim of this work was preparation and characterization of catalysts based on polyoxometalates and their use in various catalytic reactions in heterogenous conditions. Methane C-H activation on silica-supported polyoxometalates was shown already at room temperature. Methoxy species [SiMo12O40(CH3)]3- from the 13C-enriched methane adsorption at 200°C on the surface of a silicadispersed silicomolybdic acid was detected by means of 13C SS NMR. Its hydrolysis led to methanol formation, thus completing the catalytic cycle. After 13C-enriched MeOH adsorption presence of two distinct methoxy species on the surface of polyoxometalates was shown, located on terminal (single coordinated) and bridging (double coordinated) oxygen atoms and resulting in the resonances at 58 and 77 ppm in 13C SS NMR. Grafting of PtMe2COD on the surface of various polyoxometalate supports led to methane or combined methane and ethane release, explained by means of oxidative addition/reductive elimination mechanism on metal centers. Ammonium salts of phosphotungstic acid catalyzed efficiently n-butane to isobutane skeletal isomerisation at mild conditions (225 °C, atmospheric pressure). Successful heterogenization of copper catalysts, active in enantioselective C-H carbene insertion reactions, on polyoxometalate supports have been shown

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