PART I RESOLUTION AND DESYMMETRISATION Chapter I. ‘A Novel Racemate Resolution’. This describes a novel resolution strategy as applied to racemic α-amino acids in the solid state. The strategy is based on the possibility that second order asymmetric transformations (SOAT) would be more likely in the case of achiral molecules that form chiral crystals (i.e. a non- centrosymmetric space group).1 In such cases, a fundamental requirement of SOAT – that the molecules racemise in solution prior to crystallization – is obviated. Furthermore, the resulting enantiomerically-enriched crystals may be employed to effect a solid-state kinetic resolution of a different racemate (composed of chiral molecules). This strategy was explored with crystalline succinic anhydride (1, Scheme 1), which not only exists in a non-centrosymmetric space group (P212121) but also possesses reactive functionality to effect the resolution step.2 Thus, a finely-ground mixture of 1 (0.5 eqiv.) and a racemic α-amino acid (2, 1.0 eqiv.) was heated at ~ 70 oC over ~ 5 h without solvent. The resulting N-succinoyl derivative (3) was separated from the unreacted 2, which was found to possess significant levels of optical purity (typically ~ 70%). The strategy was applied to several common α-amino acids, the results being summarized in Table 1. These results, apart from establishing ‘proof-of-concept’ and the viability of the resolution strategy, indicate that crystalline succinic anhydride (1) is enantiomerically enriched as originally hypothesized. Chapter II. ‘Enantiospecific Alkylation and Desymmetrisations’. This deals with two enolate-mediated strategies of asymmetric synthesis: one describes approaches towards the alkylation of the stereogenic centre in benzoin without loss of stereogenicity (Section A), and the other the desymmetrisation of a meso tartarate derivative with a chiral base catalyst (Section B). Section A. This describes exploratory studies aimed at achieving the enantiospecific α-alkylation of optically-active benzoin (4, Scheme 2) via its enolate anion 5. The strategy depends on the possibility that 5 would exist in atropisomeric forms, because of steric interactions between the vicinal phenyl groups. (This is indicated in the crystal structure of the analogous enediol carbonate derived from racemic 4.)3 In such a case, remarkably, 5 would be chiral, despite its planar enediolate core! Thus, possibly, the configurational chirality in 4 (by virtue of the C2 stereogenic centre) would be transformed to the helical chirality in 5 (by virtue of the atropisomerism). Furthermore, enantioface-selective alkylation of 5 with achiral alkylating agents would, in principle, be possible. Preliminary studies were then directed towards establishing that controlled deprotonation of optically-active 4, followed by the protonation of the resulting enediolate 5, leads back to the original 4. (+)-Benzoin (4) was prepared via resolution,4 and deprotonated with KH in THF.5 The resulting enediolate (5) was neutralized with acetic acid at -70 oC/THF to recover 4, but with insignificant levels of optical activity (e.e. ~ 12%). The results possibly indicate that ortho-substituted benzoin analogs may show greater retention of chirality upon deprotonation, as the racemisation of the enediolate atropisomers would be suppressed by steric hindrance between the aryl moities. Section B. This describes studies directed towards the catalytic desymmetrisation of meso dimethyl tartarate (6, Scheme 3). The strategy involves the formation of the acetonide derivative 7 and its regioselective α-deprotonation with a chiral base catalyst. The enantioface-selective protonation of the resulting enolate (8) would lead to the chiral analog 9. The overall sequence offers a possible alternative to catalytic deracemisation, which is normally unviable for thermodynamic reasons.6 The above strategy hinges on the meso derivative 7 being thermodynamically less stable than the enantiomeric 9, which would thus be favoured at equilibrium. In fact, this is likely as the eclipsing interactions between the syn ester moieties in 7 would be relieved in 9, in which the ester moieties are anti. However, deprotonation of 7 at the other α position would compete to varying extents, depending on the selectivity induced by the chiral base. At total equilibrium, the sequence would occur via deprotonation at both α sites at equal rates, and no net optical induction would be observed. (This is a thermodynamic requirement via the principle of microscopic reversibility.) Thus, the success of the above strategy depends on stalling the deprotonation-protonation sequence at a quasi-equilibrium stage involving only one of the enantiomers (9).6 The other operational requirement was the compatibility of the pKa’s of 7 and the chiral base employed: too low a pKa of the base would result in inefficient deprotonation and slow overall rate, but a high pKa would generate a large quantity of the enolate 8 at equilibrium. After due consideration, the lithiated chiral fluorene derivative 11 (pKa ~ 22) was chosen as the chiral base catalyst [11 was prepared from fluorene (10) as indicated]. Treating 7 with 0.2 equivalent of 10 in THF at -65 oC over 2 h, led to the formation of a mixture of 7 and 9 in a 45:55 ratio (isolated in 85% total yield). Chromatographic separation of the mixture led to the isolation of pure (+)-9, which was identified spectrally; it was found to possess [α]D24 = +21.84 (c 1.0, CHCl3), corresponding to e.e. = 64%. (This implies the indicated (4S, 5S) configuration for 1, 3-dioxolane 9, as previously reported.)7 These results, despite the moderate e.e. levels obtained, indicate the viability of the above catalytic desymmetrisation strategy, bearing in mind the mechanistic ambiguities mentioned above. PART II SYNTHESES OF ALDEHYDES AND AMINO ACIDS Chapter III. ‘An Asymmetric Synthesis of Aldehydes’. This describes an oxazoline approach to the synthesis of chiral aldehydes. The oxazoline methodology for the synthesis of homochiral α-alkylated carboxylic acids is well known,8 and it was of interest to adapt this to the synthesis of the corresponding aldehydes. Essentially, it was envisaged that the reaction sequence could be diverted towards aldehydes via reduction of the alkylated oxazoline intermediate (Scheme 4). Thus, 2-ethyl-4(S)-methoxymethyl-5(R)-phenyl-1,3-oxazoline (12) was deprotonated with lithium diisopropylamide in THF, and the resulting anion treated with various alkyl halides, in the reported manner.8 The resulting alkylated product (13) was N-methylated with MeI in refluxing MeNO2 over 6 h, to obtain the quaternary salt 14. This was reduced with NaBH4 in MeOH to obtain the expected N- methyl oxazolidine 15, which was hydrolyzed in refluxing aqueous oxalic acid to the free aldehydes 16. These were isolated in moderate yields and e.e. values as shown. Chapter IV. ‘A Darzens Route to α-Amino Acids’. This describes a novel route to α-amino acids, based on the classical Darzens glycidic ester synthesis.9 In this approach (Scheme 5), the glycidic ester (19) was prepared from benzaldehyde (17) and t-butyl bromoformate (18), with KOH in THF as base, and tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as phase transfer catalyst.9b The oxirane ring in 19 was cleaved via nucleophilic attack with an amine (20), to furnish the two regio-isomeric hydroxy- amino acids (21) and (22). Generally, the β-hydroxy-α-amino acid product (21) predominated over the α-hydroxy-β-amino acid product (22), the two being separated chromatographically. The hydroxyl group in 21 was reductively cleaved via its xanthate derivative (23), by refluxing it in toluene with AIBN (10 mol %) over 4 h. The resulting α-amino acid derivatives (24) were obtained in moderate yields (< 60 %) upon chromatographic purification. (The β-amino analog 22, would lead to the corresponding β-amino acid, but this was not pursued further.) This strategy lends itself to creating structural diversity at the β-centre in the α- amino acid, drawing upon the wide scope of the well-established Darzens condensation reaction. Also, the introduction of the amino moiety is facilitated by the enhanced reactivity at the α-centre of the oxirane ring in the glycidic ester (19), presumably for both electronic and steric reasons.

The thesis entitled “Exploring Diverse Facets of Small Molecules by NMR Spectroscopy” consists of six chapters. The main theme of the thesis is to exploit one and two dimensional NMR methodologies for understanding the diverse facets of small organic molecules, such as, weak intra- and inter- molecular interactions, chiral discrimination, quantification of enantiomeric excess and assignment of absolute configuration. Several new pulse sequences have also been designed to solve specific chemical problems, in addition to extensive utility of existing one and two dimensional NMR experiments. The results obtained on different problems, are discussed under six chapters in the thesis. The brief summary of each of these chapters is given below. Chapter 1 begins with the discussion on the importance of small molecules and their various facets, the analytical techniques available in the literature to study them. The role of NMR spectroscopy as powerful analytical technique to understand the diverse facets of organic molecules and their importance is set out in brief. A short introduction to the basic principles of NMR, the interaction parameters, the commonly employed one and two dimensional homo- and herero- nuclear NMR experiments are also given. The basic introduction to product operators essential for understanding the spin dynamics in the developed pulse sequences is given. The application of diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY), the general problems encountered in the analysis of combinatorial mixtures and the matrix assisted method in circumventing such problems are discussed. Chapter 2 focuses on the chiral discrimination and the measurement of enatiomeric excess. The NMR approach to discriminate enantiomers using chiral auxiliaries such as, solvating agents, derivatizing agents, lanthanide shift reagents, the choice of such auxiliaries and the limitations are discussed in detail. The in-depth discussion on the new protocols developed using both the solvating and derivatizing agents for enantiomeric discrimination of chiral amines, hydroxy acids and diacids are discussed. The new three-component protocols that serve as chiral derivatizing agents for the discrimination of primary amines, diacids and hydroxy acids are discussed. Also the role of organic base such as DMAP in the chiral discrimination is explored for discrimination of acids using BINOL as a chiral solvating agent. Accordingly the discussion is classified into two sections. In the first section the protocol developed utilizing an enantiopure mandelic acid, a primary amine substrate and 2-formylphenylboronic acid that is ideally suited for testing the enantiopurity of chiral primary amines is discussed. The broad applicability of the protocols for testing enantiopurity has been demonstrated on number of chiral molecules using 1H and 19F NMR. The second section contains the results on the new concept developed for discrimination of hydroxy acids. The strategy involves the formation of three component protocol using chiral hydroxy acid, R-alphamethylbenzylamine and 2-formylphenylboronic acid for 1H-NMR discrimination of diacids. The section also includes the utility of ternary ion-pair complex for the discrimination of acids. The ternary ion-pair not only permitted the testing of enantiopurity of chiral acids, but is also found useful for the measurement of enantiomeric excess. Chapter 3 discusses the utilization of the developed three-component protocols for the assignment of absolute configurations of molecules of different functionality. The protocols for the assignments of absolute configuration of primary amines using 2-formylphenylboronic acid and mandelic acid yielded the substantial chemical shift differences between diastereomers. The consistent trend in the direction of change of chemical shifts of the discriminated proton(s) gave significant evidence for employing them as parameters for the assignment of spatial configuration of primary amines. Another protocol using 2-formylphenylboronic acid, hydroxy acids and enantiopure alphamethylbenzylamine permitted their configurational assignment. In the second section a novel solvating agent, obtained by the formation of an ion-pair complex among enantiopure BINOL, DMAP and chiral hydroxy acid for the assignment of the spatial configuration of hydroxy acids is discussed. Chapter 4 focuses on the development of novel NMR methodologies, and also the utility of existing two-dimensional experiments for addressing certain challenging problems. This chapter has been divided into three sections. In Section-I the utilization of well-known homonuclear 2D-J-resolved methodology for unravelling the overlapped NMR spectra of enantiomers, an application for chiral discrimination and the measurement of enantiomeric excess is discussed. The utilization of the chiral auxiliaries, such as, chiral derivatizing agents, chiral solvating agents and lanthanide shift reagents permits enantiodiscrimination and the measurement of excess of one form over the other. Nevertheless many a times one encounters severe problems due to small chemical shift difference, overlap of resonances, complex multiplicity pattern because of the presence of number of interacting spins, and enormous line broadening due to paramagnetic nature of the metal complex. This section is focused on combating such problems utilizing 2D-J-1JNH resolved spectroscopy where a 450 tilting of the spectrum in the F2 dimension, yielded the pure shift NMR spectrum. The method circumvents several problems involved in chiral discrimination and allows the accurate measurement of enantiomeric excess. In Section-II, the development of novel NMR experimental methodology cited in the literature as C-HetSERF and its application for the study of symmetric molecules, such as, double bonded cis- and trans- isomers, and extraction of magnitudes and signs of long range homo- and hetero- nuclear scalar couplings among chemically equivalent protons in polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons is discussed. The extensive utility of the new pulse sequence has been demonstrated on number of symmetric molecules, where the conventional one dimensional experiment fails to yield spectral parameters. In section III, yet another novel pulse sequence called RES-TOCSY developed for unravelling of the overlapped NMR spectrum of enantiomers and the measurement of enantiomeric contents, has been utilized for the accurate measurement of magnitudes and signs of 1H-19F couplings in fluorine containing molecules. The method has distinct advantages as the strengths of the couplings and their relative signs could be extracted on diverse situations, such as, couplings smaller than line widths, the spectrum where the coupling fine structures are absent. Chapter 5 covers the study of nature of intra- and inter- molecular hydrogen bond in amide and its derivative. The chapter is accordingly divided into two sections. In the first section the study of acid and amide hydrogen bonding is discussed and the hydrogen bonded interactions are probed by extensive utility of 1H, 13C and 15N-NMR. The temperature perturbation experiments, measurements of the variation in the couplings, monitoring of diffusion coefficients and the association constants, detection of through space correlation have given unambiguous evidence for the hydrogen bond formation. The results were also supported by DFT calculations. Similar interaction in the solid state has also been derived by obtaining the crystal structure of complex phenylacetic acid with benzamide. In the second section of the chapter the hydrogen bond interaction of organic fluorine in trifluoromethyl derivatives of benzanilides has been explored and the involvement of CF3 group in the hydrogen bonding has been detected. The evidence for the participation of CF3 group in hydrogen bond has been confirmed by number of experiments, such as, the detection of through space couplings, viz., 1hJFH, 1hJFN, and 2hJFF , where the spin polarization between the interacting spins is transmitted through hydrogen bond, the temperature and solvent dependent studies, variation in the 1JNH and two dimensional heteronuclear correlation experiments. In an interesting example of a molecule containing two CF3 groups situated on two phenyl rings of benzanilide, the simultaneous participation of fluorines of two CF3 groups in hydrogen bond has been detected. The confirmatory evidence for such an interaction, where hydrogen bond mediated couplings are not reflected in the NMR spectrum, has been derived by 19F−19F NOESY. Significant deviations in the strengths of 1JNH, in addition to variable temperature, and the solvent induced perturbation studies yielded additional evidence. The NMR results are corroborated by both DFT calculations and MD simulations, where the quantitative information on different ways of involvement of fluorine in two and three centered hydrogen bonds, their percentage of occurrences, and geometries have been obtained. The hydrogen bond interaction energies have also been calculated. The study revealed the rare observation and the first example of the C-F…H-N hydrogen bond in solution state in the molecules containing CF3 groups. Chapter 6 focuses on the mixture analysis using the diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY). High Resolution-DOSY works when the NMR spectrum is well resolved and the diffusion coefficients of the combinatorial mixtures are substantially different from each other. DOSY technique fails when the mixture contains the molecules of nearly identical weights and similar hydrodynamic radii. Thus, the positional isomers, enantiomers consequent to their nearly identical rates of diffusion, are not differentiated. Some of these problems can be overcome by Matrix-Assisted Diffusion Order Spectroscopy (MAD-spectroscopy), where an external reagent acts as a matrix and aids in their diffusion edited separation, provided the molecules embedded in it possess differential binding abilities with the matrix. Such different binding properties of the matrix are the basis for resolution of many isomeric species. In the present study three different novel auxiliaries, micelles-reverse micelles, crown ether and cyclodextrin are introduced for the resolution of positional isomers, double bonded isomers, viz., fumaric acid and maleic acid and also enantiomers. Accordingly, the results of each of these studies are discussed in three different sections.