The behaviour of chiral 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones, derived from reaction of mandelic and lactic acid with pivalaldehyde, as chiral acyl anion equivalents has been examined. Addition of the corresponding 5-anions to a substituted nitrostyrene and to butenolide was achieved and the structure and stereochemistry of the adducts established by X-ray crystallography. Fragmentation under flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) conditions occurred in the expected way (loss of Bu([superscript]t)CHO and CO) in the latter case, but in the former reductive cyclisation was used to generate functionalised lactams. An unexpected reaction of a dioxolanone anion with the dioxolanone to afford an aldol-like dimer was observed in one case. Attempts to extend the range of dioxolanones by using amino acid-derived α-hydroxy acids met with limited success. Only the 5-benzyl compound derived from phenylalanine was obtained in reasonable yield and an attempt to alkylate it led again to aldol-like dimerisation. Cycloaddition to the double bond of 2-t-butyl-5-methylene-1,3-dioxolan-4-one was used to gain access to a range of novel spiro bicyclic and polycyclic systems and fragmentation of these was expected to provide products resulting from a chiral ketene equivalent. While the epoxide derived from the cyclopentadiene Diels Alder adduct did behave in this way to give the chiral ketone in high e.e., the corresponding aziridine underwent unexpected isomerisation pointing to a stepwise fragmentation mechanism of possible general applicability in these systems. Adducts were also formed with tetracyclone and 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran and an interesting pattern of exo/endo selectivity was observed in these cases. With tetrachlorothiophene dioxide the adduct again fragmented in an unexpected way to give tetrachlorobenzoic acid, providing further support for the intermediacy of an oxonium carboxylate species. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition to 2-t-butyl-5-methylene-1,3-dioxolan-4-one was achieved for the first time and a range of adducts containing novel spiro heterocyclic ring systems derived from nitrile oxides, nitrones and diazo compounds were obtained and characterised. The regiochemistry of addition as well as the relative and absolute stereochemistry was demonstrated by X-ray structures of three adducts. Upon pyrolysis some of these compounds unexpectedly lost Bu([superscript]t)CHO and CO2 to give carbene-derived products, including a β-lactam in one case. Cycloaddition reactions of the achiral 2,2-dimethyl-5-methylene-1,3-dioxolan-4-one were also briefly studied.

The development of new methods for carbon-carbon bond formation is a challenging topic at the heart of organic chemistry. Over the past ten years a number of methods for the catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition of organometallic reagents such as Grignard, organozinc and organoaluminium reagents have been reported. However these reagents suffer from many limitations, including the need for cryogenic temperatures, which prevent their widespread use. Here we have developed a new asymmetric method: the copper-catalysed enantioselective 1,4-addition of alkylzirconium compounds, generated in situM/em>, from alkenes. A general introduction into the formation of carbon-carbon bonds and catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions is first given. We then focus our attention on hydrometallation reactions and their current use in the addition of alkenyl and alkyl groups in asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions. In Chapter two, we introduce the development of our methodology. We found that by using copper complex <b>(S,S,S)-A</b>, high enantioselectivities can be achieved (up to 96% ee), in the presence of a broad range of functional groups which are often not compatible with comparable methods using pre-made organometallic reagents. The method gives good enantioselectivity at room temperature, in a wide range of solvents, using readily available alkenes. Chapter three discusses the expansion of our method to the 1,4- and 1,6-addition to complex steroids. Modified conditions were then found to enable the addition to &beta;-substituted enones, to form quaternary centres. This is followed by the successful addition to &alpha;,&beta;-unsaturated lactones, another difficult substrate class. All these results gave excellent selectivity. In summary, we have developed a new reaction which offers an alternative to current methods reported in the literature. This robust reaction can tolerate a variety of functional groups and we hope that this will aid in the synthesis of important molecules.

Le développement de nouvelles méthodes de synthèse de molécules hétérocycliques originales représente un enjeu actuel majeur en chimie organique. L’objectif est de fournir de nouveaux outils chimiques pour le développement de molécules actives en chimie médicinale et/ou pour l’étude de la biologie chimique, tout en contribuant à l’exploration de l’espace chimique.Dans ce contexte, le travail effectué au cours de cette thèse de doctorat a visé à élaborer de nouvelles voies de synthèse de motifs tétrahydro-[1,6]-naphtyridines. La pierre angulaire des méthodologies développées réside dans l’utilisation des 3-vinyl-1,2,4-triazines comme des plateformes synthétiques bifonctionnelles. Ces composés ont été développés pour réagir à la fois comme accepteurs de Michael et comme aza-diènes dansdes cycloadditions de Diels-Alder à demande électronique inverse. Un intérêt tout particulier a été porté à lamise au point de stratégies synthétiques innovantes, par des réactions en cascade permettant une synthèse rapide et efficace des molécules cibles, et des approches de catalyse organique visant des transformations énantiosélectives.La synthèse de nouvelles 3-vinyl-1,2,4-triazines et le développement de stratégies de réactions d’addition conjuguée/cycloadditions en cascade et de synthèses monotopes organocatalysées ont fournis l’accès à une vaste gamme de nouvelles tétrahydro-[1,6]-naphthyridines diversement substituées. / The development of new methods for the synthesis of original heterocyclic molecules represents a current concern in organic chemistry, aiming to furnish medicinal chemistry and chemical biology with new chemical tools and contribute to the exploration of chemical space.In this context, the work which was carried out during this PhD thesis focused on the elaboration of new approaches for the synthesis of tetrahydro-[1,6]-naphthyridine scaffolds. The original use of 3-vinyl-1,2,4-triazines as bifunctional synthetic platforms, able to react both as Michael acceptor and as aza-diene in inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder cycloadditions, is the keystone our methodology is based upon. The development of domino reactions – allowing quick and efficient synthesis of targeted compounds – remaineda perpetual concern evolving along side our preoccupation to access enantioselective transformations relying on organocatalysis.The synthesis of new 3-vinyl-1,2,4-triazines platforms and the elaboration of domino conjugate addition/cycloadditions and orgonocatalyzed one-pot synthesis strategies enabled to synthetize a wide panelof new diversly substituted tetrahydro-[1,6]-naphthyridines compounds.

<p>This thesis deals with synthetically modified chiral molecules and their application in asymmetric catalysis. The first part of the thesis describes the use of commercially available chiral diamine ligands in the iridium catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones. The chiral diamine ligands were mixed with an appropriate transition-metal complex, which after addition of suitable base provided a chiral transition metal complex capable of reducing a range of different aromatic ketones in high yields and enantioselectivities. The developed methodology constitutes a cost effective and readily available procedure for transfer hydrogenation reactions. The following chapters in the thesis are completely devoted to rational design of small organic molecules acting as catalyst in various organocatalytic transformations. Organocatalytic methodology, represent a new and complementary approach to asymmetric organic synthesis, as compared to e.g. transition metal based methodology. Advantages of this methodology typically include mild and less stringent reaction conditions. This, in combination with the lack of toxic transition metal by-products, makes the process more environmentally benign; the organocatalytic methodology, therefore represent a promising approach towards implementation of green chemistry in organic synthesis. Despite this promise, typical drawbacks of the current methodology are long reaction times and the need for high catalyst loadings. Thus, a large demand exists for enhancing reactivity and increasing selectivity in organocatalytic reactions. The present thesis describes several efforts where we have tried to rationally design improved catalysts for various enantioselective organocata-lytic reactions. First, a structurally modified L-proline, incorporating a 1H-tetrazolic acid, was synthesized and evaluated in the direct asymmetric organocatalytic aldol reaction. As shown in Paper II, the catalyst displayed very high reactivity and subsequent studies were initiated in order to rationalize the reactivity enhancement (Paper III). Delightfully, the design principle of a 1H-tetrazolic acid as replacement for a carboxylic acid has since been widely used in the community, including our own efforts in organocatalytic asymmetric cyclopropanations (Paper V)and Diels-Alder reactions (Paper VII). Novel catalysts, including other functionalizations, were also designed for organocatalytic asymmetric addition of nitroalkanes to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (Paper IV) and for cyclopropanations (Paper VI).</p>

This thesis deals with synthetically modified chiral molecules and their application in asymmetric catalysis. The first part of the thesis describes the use of commercially available chiral diamine ligands in the iridium catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones. The chiral diamine ligands were mixed with an appropriate transition-metal complex, which after addition of suitable base provided a chiral transition metal complex capable of reducing a range of different aromatic ketones in high yields and enantioselectivities. The developed methodology constitutes a cost effective and readily available procedure for transfer hydrogenation reactions. The following chapters in the thesis are completely devoted to rational design of small organic molecules acting as catalyst in various organocatalytic transformations. Organocatalytic methodology, represent a new and complementary approach to asymmetric organic synthesis, as compared to e.g. transition metal based methodology. Advantages of this methodology typically include mild and less stringent reaction conditions. This, in combination with the lack of toxic transition metal by-products, makes the process more environmentally benign; the organocatalytic methodology, therefore represent a promising approach towards implementation of green chemistry in organic synthesis. Despite this promise, typical drawbacks of the current methodology are long reaction times and the need for high catalyst loadings. Thus, a large demand exists for enhancing reactivity and increasing selectivity in organocatalytic reactions. The present thesis describes several efforts where we have tried to rationally design improved catalysts for various enantioselective organocata-lytic reactions. First, a structurally modified L-proline, incorporating a 1H-tetrazolic acid, was synthesized and evaluated in the direct asymmetric organocatalytic aldol reaction. As shown in Paper II, the catalyst displayed very high reactivity and subsequent studies were initiated in order to rationalize the reactivity enhancement (Paper III). Delightfully, the design principle of a 1H-tetrazolic acid as replacement for a carboxylic acid has since been widely used in the community, including our own efforts in organocatalytic asymmetric cyclopropanations (Paper V)and Diels-Alder reactions (Paper VII). Novel catalysts, including other functionalizations, were also designed for organocatalytic asymmetric addition of nitroalkanes to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (Paper IV) and for cyclopropanations (Paper VI).

Of the seven existing classes of serotonin receptors, the 5-HT7 receptors (5-HT7Rs) are the most recently discovered. Abundance of 5-HT7 in the central nervous system is suggestive of the receptor’s role in several physiological and pathophysiological functions. Existing research has afforded a number of compounds exhibiting specific affinity to the receptor. These selective ligands can provide structural information about the receptor and can serve as the foundation for pharmacological profiling . This thesis describes the synthesis of substituted pyrimidines and pyridines for affinity to the 5-HT7 receptor. Organometallic species are the cornerstone for sev-eral of the synthetic pathways.

The development of new methods to make carbon-carbon bonds asymmetrically remains a challenge in organic chemistry. Indeed, the development of highly selective methods often proceeds on a trial and error basis. The way chiral information is transferred to the substrate is unclear in many reactions, limiting further development. We focus here on developing an asymmetric conjugate addition of alkylzirconium nucleophiles to Michael acceptors. The development of new phosphoramidite ligands, supported by a computer based model, allowed further development of the reaction. First, existing methods to introduce enantioselectively chirality are described. Then we discuss ligands, and modern ways to parameterise experimental data using computational methods. In chapter two, after discussing the use of alkenes as reagents, especially processes initiated by hydrometallation, we describe a new conjugate addition reaction using cyclic enones that achieves both high yields and levels of enantioselectivity. In chapter three, various applications of phosphoramidite ligands are discussed and we describe the synthesis of a variety of different phosphoramidites and identification of important structural features of these ligands. New, efficient ligands are obtained and a computer model is developed to account for the selectivity of the reaction discussed in chapter two. Chapter four describes the development of an enantioselective synthesis of quaternary centres with novel ligands used to optimise the new system. Lastly, chapter five describes the extension of the method to some linear enones, using different ligands. Overall, we have developed a variety of ligands which were used to expand the enone scope of a conjugate addition and an understanding of what factors make these ligands effective.

The natural product 2 crotonyloxymethyl-(4R,5R,6R)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-cyclohex-2-enone (COTC) was isolated from the microorganism Streptomyces griseosporeus in 1975. It was shown to exhibit 'cytotoxic and cancerostatic activity'. The simplified synthetic analogue 2-crotonyl-oxymethyl-cyclohex-2-enone (COMC) has been shown to exhibit potent anti tumour activity against murine and human tumours in cell culture. For several years, the Whitehead research group at the University of Manchester have focused on the synthesis of COTC and COMC analogues in an attempt to produce compounds with enhanced cytotoxicity. In this thesis, the syntheses of several polyfunctionalised cyclohexenones are described. These compounds are analogues of COTC and COMC which also bear structural resemblance to the antheminone and carvotacetone natural products. Initially, the syntheses of six novel compounds from the chiral pool starting material (-)-quinic acid are described. The first four synthetic steps of each sequence were carried out by slight modification of procedures previously reported by the Whitehead research group. As part of the synthetic strategy, the diastereoselective conjugate addition of carbon nucleophiles to several polyfunctionalised cyclohexenones was investigated. The cytotoxicity of four of the synthetic analogues towards A549 non small cell lung cancer cells was investigated by use of an MTT assay. Two of the analogues were found to be more cytotoxic then COMC. The most effective synthetic analogue had an IC50 value of 2.2 μM. This analogue was more cytotoxic than similar molecules that had previously been synthesised by members of the Whitehead research group. Based on the results of the MTT assay, another two analogues were designed and their synthesis from (-)-quinic acid is described. The cytotoxicity of these analogues has yet to be assessed. In summary, the general synthetic strategies developed in this thesis will provide easy access to new analogues of the natural products, enabling the development of new cytotoxic compounds.

Multifunctional enzymes have alternative functions or activities, known as “moonlighting” or “promiscuous”, which are often hidden behind a native enzyme activity and therefore only visible under special environmental conditions. In this thesis, the active-site of Pseudozyma (formerly Candida) antarctica lipase B was explored for a promiscuous conjugate addition activity. Pseudozyma antarctica lipase B is a lipase industrially used for hydrolysis or transacylation reactions. This enzyme contains a catalytic triad, Ser105-His224-Asp187, where a nucleophilic attack from Ser105 on carboxylic acid/ester substrates cause the formation of an acyl enzyme. For conjugate addition activity in Pseudozyma antarctica lipase B, replacement of Ser105 was assumed necessary to prevent competing hemiacetal formation. However, experiments revealed conjugate addition activity in both wild-type enzyme and the Ser105Ala variant. Enzyme-catalyzed conjugate additions were performed by adding sec-amine, thiols or 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to various α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in both water or organic solvent. The reactions followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and the native ping pong bi bi reaction mechanism of Pseudozyma antarctica lipase B for hydrolysis/transacylation was rerouted to a novel ordered bi uni reaction mechanism for conjugate addition (Paper I, II, III). The lipase hydrolysis activity was suppressed more than 1000 times by the replacement of the nucleophilic Ser105 to Ala (Paper III).

This thesis is concerned with the application of the conjugate addition of functionalised lithium amides in the asymmetric syntheses of (−)-morphine and all members of the homalium alkaloids. Chapter 1 introduces the conjugate addition reaction as an important bond forming reaction, and explores its utility in the asymmetric synthesis of a variety of natural products. The conjugate addition of secondary lithium amides derived from α-methylbenzylamine is discussed, along with its application to the asymmetric synthesis of alkaloids. Chapter 2 describes two distinct attempts towards the asymmetric synthesis of (−)-morphine, both reliant upon the lithium amide conjugate addition and an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to set the five required stereogenic centres. The use of the novel and highly functionalised reagent lithium (R)-N-[2′-(7-methoxybenzofuran-3-yl)ethyl]-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide and its derivatives is reported. Chapter 3 focuses on the use of the novel reagent lithium (R)-N-(3-chloroprop-1-yl)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide and its derivatives in the asymmetric synthesis of two of the homalium alkaloids, (−)-(S,S)-homaline and (−)-(R,R)-hopromine, culminating in the most efficient syntheses of these alkaloids to date. Further, a sample of the (4′R,4′′S)-diastereoisomer of hopromine was synthesised, serving to confirm the proposed absolute configuration within natural (−)-(R,R)-hopromine. Chapter 4 extends the methodology developed in chapter 3 to the asymmetric synthesis of all possible diastereoisomers of the remaining homalium alkaloids, (−)-hopromalinol and (−)-hoprominol. These syntheses were used to propose the absolute configurations within these alkaloids, and therefore represented the first asymmetric syntheses of natural (−)-(4′S,4″R,2‴R)-hopromalinol and (−)-(R,R,R)-hoprominol. Chapter 5 contains full experimental procedures and characterisation data for all compounds synthesised in Chapters 2, 3 and 4.