This thesis is concerned with the development of methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of a range of amino polyol containing compounds. Chapter 1 highlights the abundance of the amino polyol motif in nature, the wide range of biological activities displayed by amino polyol containing compounds, and their occurrence in drug molecules. A variety of different methods for the synthesis of stereodefined amino polyols is then discussed. Chapter 2 details a full investigation into the doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition reactions of the antipodes of lithium N-benzyl-N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)amide to enantiopurealpha,beta-unsaturated esters which contain a dioxolane unit. The “matched” conjugate addition reactions were further coupled with a highly diastereoselective in situ enolate oxidation using camphorsulfonyloxaziridine for the synthesis of keyalpha-hydroxy-beta-amino ester intermediates. Subsequent cyclisation and further elaboration allowed access to a range of amino polyol containing compounds including imino sugars, amino sugars, and amino acids. Chapter 3 extends the investigation into the doubly diastereoselective lithium amide conjugate addition reaction to enantiopure alpha,beta-unsaturated esters which contain two dioxolane units. A full assessment into the conjugate addition of the antipodes of lithium N-benzyl-N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)amide to a series of D-pentose derived alpha,beta-unsaturated esters is reported. Subsequent elaboration of thebeta-amino ester products of these conjugate addition reactions resulted in the synthesis of (2'S,3'S,4'R)-dihydroxyhomoproline and (2'S,3'R,4'S)-dihydroxyhomoproline. Chapter 4 describes the asymmetric syntheses of protected forms of APTO and AETD, the 2,4,5-trihydroxy substitutedbeta-amino acid residues found within the hexapeptide marine natural products microsclerodermins C, D and E. The optimised synthetic routes to APTO and AETD involved three key steps: a diastereoselective aminohydroxylation [via conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)amide to an achiralalpha,beta-unsaturated ester followed by in situ enolate oxidation with camphorsulfonyloxaziridine], a diastereoselective dihydroxylation, and an olefination. Chapter 5 contains full experimental procedures and characterisation data for all compounds synthesised in chapters 2, 3 and 4.

Ce travail de thèse porte dans un premier temps sur la synthèse de nouveaux sels d’azolinium chiraux précurseurs de carbènes N-hétérocycliques. Deux nouvelles familles de sels ont été préparées à partir de la L-proline. Nous avons pu caractériser les NHC issus de ces sels, par la formation des dimères, des thiones et des complexes de rhodium correspondants. Dans un second temps, ces nouveaux sels d’azolinium ont été évalués dans la réaction d’addition conjuguée de réactifs de Grignard sur des cétones α,β insaturées. Les résultats ont montré de très bonnes activités catalytiques, et de très bonnes régiosélectivités. Les énantiosélectivités obtenues sont encourageantes. Ensuite, ces catalyseurs ont été engagés dans la réaction de substitution allylique. Une bonne activité catalytique a aussi été observée malgré des régiosélectivités et des énantiosélectivités modérées. Enfin, ces sels ont été employés comme précurseurs de NHC pour la réduction asymétrique de cétones aromatiques par transfert d’hydrogène. Les complexes formés se sont montrés actifs mais non énantiosélectifs. / This work deals with, at first, the synthesis of new chiral azolinium precursors to N-heterocyclic carbenes. Two families have been prepared from the L-proline. The structures of some NHC dimmers, thiones and [Rh-NHC] complexes were characterized and confirmed by different analysis methods.Secondly, these new salts were evaluated in the conjugate addition reaction of Grignard reagents to α,β-unsaturated ketones. The results obtained shown very good catalytic activity, excellent regioselectivity with moderate enantioselectivity. They were also involved in the allylic substitution reaction. Good catalytic activity was observed despite moderate regioselectivity and enantioselectivity. Finally, these azolinium salts were employed as NHC precursors for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones. The complexes proved to be active, but non enantioselective.

Since the middle of the 20th century, significant interest has evolved from the scientific community towards the polypropionate family of marine natural products. A number of these compounds have been shown to possess significant biological activity, and this property, as well as their structural complexity, has driven numerous efforts towards their synthesis. The first chapter provides an introduction into the world of polypropionates, with a discussion on synthetic studies into a number of members of the tridachiapyrone family. Fundamental synthetic concepts utilised in this thesis towards the preparation of polyketides are also described, with a focus on their application towards the synthesis of 9,10-deoxytridachione, anti tridachiahydropyrone and syn tridachiahydropyrone. Chapter 2 describes the work undertaken towards the total synthesis of 9,10-deoxytridachione. The novel tandem conjugate addition-Dieckmann condensation of complex enones developed previously in the Perkins group was used to generate anti methylated cyclohexenones as key synthetic intermediates. The conversion of the cyclohexenones into the corresponding cyclohexadienes via allylic alcohols was attempted, utilising a Grignard-mediated reaction to achieve the selective 1,2-reduction. Studies into the Grignard-mediated reduction were also undertaken on seven additional cyclohexenones, in order to investigate the utility and scope of the reaction. The extension of the methodology previously developed for the synthesis of cyclohexenones is the subject of Chapter 3. This section describes investigations into the synthesis of stereochemically-diverse cyclohexenones from complex enones. The conjugate addition-Dieckmann condensation strategy was extended successfully towards the synthesis of a syn methylated cyclohexenone, which allowed the synthesis of the proposed true structure of tridachiahydropyrone to be pursued. The methodology developed in Chapter 3 was utilised in Chapter 4 to synthesise a model system of syn tridachiahydropyrone. A comparative analysis of the NMR data of the syn model, an anti model and anti tridachiahydropyrone with the natural product indicated that the true structure of tridachiahydropyrone may indeed have syn stereochemistry. The synthesis of syn tridachiahydropyrone was attempted, and to this end a suitable cyclohexanone was successfully synthesised. However, the subsequent methylation-elimination cascade failed to furnish the desired syn methylated cyclohexenone, producing only an anti methylated cyclohexanone. The stereochemistry of the methylation was deduced using high and low variable temperature NMR coupled with selective irradiation NOESY.

Chapter one; “(-)-Rhazinilam and (-)-Rhazinal: Alkaloids with Anti-mitotic Properties Derived from Kopsia teoi”, provides the background information behind the motives that initiated this research project. The plant alkaloid (-)-rhazinilam [(-)-1] and its naturally-occurring derivative (-)-rhazinal [(-)-13] both exhibit potent anti-mitotic activities and, as such, are interesting targets for total synthesis. Chapter one is a review of the literature regarding these two compounds and discusses the occurrence, proposed biosynthetic origins, structural elucidation and biological activites of compound (-)-1 and that of its analogues including alkaloid (-)-13. Previous total syntheses of these two compounds are then examined, concluding with the only reported total synthesis of compound (-)-13. Developed within the Banwell research group, this total synthesis produced the racemic modification of alkaloid (-)-13 due to a lack of any stereocontrol in the key intramolecular Michael addition step. This unprecedented key step, involving cyclisation of the C2 of pyrrole onto an N-tethered and ?,?-disubstituted acrylate to produce a quaternary-carbon stereogenic centre, would be of greatly enhanced utility if it could be achieved in a catalytic-enantioselective fashion. The realisation of this goal is the central aim of the research conducted within this thesis. ¶ Chapter two; “Investigating Asymmetric Induction in the Intramolecular Michael Addition of pyrrole to N-Tethered Acrylates and Related Species”, introduces the model study used to direct research towards achieving the goal of asymmetric induction in the title process. The model is a somewhat simplified version of the original process used in the total synthesis of compound (-)-13 involving cyclisation of the C2 of pyrrole onto an N-tethered and ?-monosubstituted Michael acceptor, to produce a tertiary-carbon stereogenic centre. This simplification allows the rapid synthesis of a broad range of potential substrates for use in the title process, thus enabling the investigation of various different approaches to inducing asymmetry therein. High levels of asymmetric induction are observed with the use of chiral substrates or catalysts, facilitating the synthesis of both 6- and 7-membered rings annulated to pyrrole with construction of the relevant tertiary-carbon stereogenic centre in enantio-enriched form. For the reactions producing a 6-membered ring annulated to pyrrole, unambiguous proof of the absolute sense of asymmetric induction observed in the intramolecular Michael addition event is established using a chemical correlation study involving elaboration of a key indolizine-type cyclisation product, to the plant alkaloid of known absolute stereochemistry, (-)-tashiromine [(-)-75]. For the reaction producing a 7-membered ring annulated to pyrrole, the same information is obtained via X-ray crystallographic analyses of a dibrominated derivative of a key pyrroloazepine-type cyclisation product. ¶ Chapter three “An Enantioselective Total Synthesis of the Alkaloid (-)-Rhazinal: An Anti-mitotic Agent Isolated from Kopsia teoi.”, focuses on the application of methodology developed in the previous chapter, to the original goal of inducing asymmetry in the intramolecular Michael addition reaction, involving cyclisation of the C2 of pyrrole onto an N-tethered and ?,?-disubstituted acrylate to produce a quaternary-carbon stereogenic centre. This is ultimately achieved in a catalytic-enantioselective fashion, resulting in the first such total synthesis of the anti-mitotic alkaloid (-)-rhazinal [(-)-13]. ¶ Chapter four “Extending the Reaction Manifold to the Syntheses of Related Natural Products: A Formal Total Synthesis of (+)-Aspidospermidine and Syntheses of (-)-Rhazinilam and (-)-Leuconolam from (-)-Rhazinal”, describes three extensions to the reaction manifold used in the enantioselective total synthesis of alkaloid (-)-13: The acquisition in an enantioselective manner, of an intermediate previously obtained in racemic form, en route to the racemic modification of the natural product (±)-aspidospermidine [(±)-134], constitutes a formal and enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-aspidospermidine [(+)-134]. The direct deformylation of (-)-rhazinal [(-)-13], is carried out, to produce the parent alkaloid (-)-rhazinilam [(-)-1]. The pyrrole ring present in (-)-rhazinilam [(-)-1] is oxidised, to produce the related natural product (-)-Leuconolam [(-)-12] which has not, hitherto, been prepared by total synthesis. ¶Chapter five contains the experimental procedures and characterisation data associated with compounds described in chapters two to four.

The selective transformation of carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds represents an attractive approach and rapidly developing frontier in synthesis. Benefits include step and atom economy, as well as the ubiquitous presence in organic molecules. Advances to this exciting realm of synthesis are described in this thesis with an emphasis on the development of catalytic, selective reactions under mild conditions. Additionally some applications of the methodologies are demonstrated. In Chapter 1, the first examples of inter-and intramolecular enantioselective conjugate alkenylations employing organostannanes are reported. A chiral, cationic Rh(I)-diene complex catalyzed the enantioselective conjugate addition of alkenylstannanes to benzylidene Meldrum’s acids in moderate enantiomeric ratios and yields. Notably, the cationic and anhydrous conditions required for the asymmetric alkenylation are complementary to existing protocols employing other alkenylmetals. In Chapter 2, a domino, one-pot formation of tetracyclic ketones from benzylidene Meldrum’s acids using Sc(OTf)3 via a [1,5]-hydride shift/cyclization/Friedel-Crafts acylation sequence is described. Respectable yields were obtained in accord with the ability to convert to the spiro-intermediate, and considering the formation of three new bonds: one C-H and two C-C bonds. An intriguing carbon-carbon bond cleavage was also serendipitously discovered as part of a competing reaction pathway. In Chapter 3, the pursuit of novel C-H bond transformations led to the development of non-carbonyl-stabilized rhodium carbenoid Csp3-H insertions. This methodology enabled the rapid synthesis of N-fused indolines and related complex heterocycles from N-aziridinylimines. By using a rhodium carboxamidate catalyst, competing processes were minimized and C-H insertions were found to proceed in moderate to high yields. Also disclosed is an expedient total synthesis of (±)-cryptaustoline, a dibenzopyrrocoline alkaloid, which highlights the methodology. In Chapter 4, the Lewis acid promoted substitution of Meldrum’s acid discovered during the course of the domino reaction was explored in detail. The protocol transforms unstrained quaternary and tertiary benzylic Csp3-Csp3 bonds into Csp3-X bonds (X = C, N, H) and has even shown to be advantageous with regards to synthetic utility over the use of alternative leaving groups for substitutions at quaternary benzylic centers. This reaction has a broad scope both in terms of suitable substrates and nucleophiles with good to excellent yields obtained (typically >90%).

The selective transformation of carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds represents an attractive approach and rapidly developing frontier in synthesis. Benefits include step and atom economy, as well as the ubiquitous presence in organic molecules. Advances to this exciting realm of synthesis are described in this thesis with an emphasis on the development of catalytic, selective reactions under mild conditions. Additionally some applications of the methodologies are demonstrated. In Chapter 1, the first examples of inter-and intramolecular enantioselective conjugate alkenylations employing organostannanes are reported. A chiral, cationic Rh(I)-diene complex catalyzed the enantioselective conjugate addition of alkenylstannanes to benzylidene Meldrum’s acids in moderate enantiomeric ratios and yields. Notably, the cationic and anhydrous conditions required for the asymmetric alkenylation are complementary to existing protocols employing other alkenylmetals. In Chapter 2, a domino, one-pot formation of tetracyclic ketones from benzylidene Meldrum’s acids using Sc(OTf)3 via a [1,5]-hydride shift/cyclization/Friedel-Crafts acylation sequence is described. Respectable yields were obtained in accord with the ability to convert to the spiro-intermediate, and considering the formation of three new bonds: one C-H and two C-C bonds. An intriguing carbon-carbon bond cleavage was also serendipitously discovered as part of a competing reaction pathway. In Chapter 3, the pursuit of novel C-H bond transformations led to the development of non-carbonyl-stabilized rhodium carbenoid Csp3-H insertions. This methodology enabled the rapid synthesis of N-fused indolines and related complex heterocycles from N-aziridinylimines. By using a rhodium carboxamidate catalyst, competing processes were minimized and C-H insertions were found to proceed in moderate to high yields. Also disclosed is an expedient total synthesis of (±)-cryptaustoline, a dibenzopyrrocoline alkaloid, which highlights the methodology. In Chapter 4, the Lewis acid promoted substitution of Meldrum’s acid discovered during the course of the domino reaction was explored in detail. The protocol transforms unstrained quaternary and tertiary benzylic Csp3-Csp3 bonds into Csp3-X bonds (X = C, N, H) and has even shown to be advantageous with regards to synthetic utility over the use of alternative leaving groups for substitutions at quaternary benzylic centers. This reaction has a broad scope both in terms of suitable substrates and nucleophiles with good to excellent yields obtained (typically >90%).

No description available.

Unsaturated sugars constitute as an important category of carbohydrate precursors in synthesis. Specifically, 1,2- and 2,3-unsaturated glycosides are excellent intermediates to derivatize monosaccharides and as building blocks in organic synthesis. For example, a major utility of 1,2-unsaturated sugars, namely glycals, is the addition reactions to afford 2-deoxy glycosides under acidic conditions and rearrangement reactions to produce 2,3-unsaturated glycosides. Lewis acids favour the formation of 2,3-unsaturated glycosides, whereas, Brønsted acids lead to normal addition products. A mixture of both the product is obtained often, depending on the nucleophiles and the stereochemistry of glycal. Chapter 1 of the thesis describes (i) reactivities of glycals under acidic condition and (ii) a general survey of reactions involving on C2-C3 carbons of monosaccharides. Glycals are useful precursors to derive a number of functionalized monosaccharide derivatives. A well-known acid catalyzed reaction of glycals is their conversion to 2,3¬unsaturated glycosides, known as the Ferrier products. In a research programme, reactivity switching and selective activation of C-1 or C-3 of 2,3-unsaturated thioglycosides under acid catalyzed condition was undertaken. Thioglycosides are excellent glycosyl donors and can be activated easily. In identifying the reactivities of 2,3-unsaturated thioglycosides, obtained through Ce(IV)-mediated reaction of a glycal, it was intended to study the glycosylation reaction and also the reactivity control of C1-C3 carbons during a glycosylation reaction. Experiments showed that a reactivity switching was possible through activation of either C-1 or C-3. Thus, C-1 glycosylation with alcohol acceptors occurred in the presence of NIS/TfOH, without the acceptors reacting at C-3. On the other hand, reaction of 2,3-unsaturated thioglycosides with alcohols mediated by triflic acid alone led to a transposition of C-1 ethylthio-moiety to C-3 intramolecularly, to form 3-ethylthio-glycals. Resulting glycals underwent glycosylation with alcohols to afford 3-ethylthio-2-deoxy glycosides. However, when thiol was used as an acceptor, only a stereoselective addition at C-3 resulted, so as to form C-1, C-3 dithio-substituted 2-deoxypyranosides. Oxocarbenium ion is the reactive intermediate during activation of a glycosyl donor, and in the case of a 2,3-unsaturated thioglycosides, the oxocarbenium ion may stabilize further by the presence of a C2-C3 unsaturation. Reaction of a nucleophile with allylic oxocarbenium ion may lead to two regio-isomers. Initially, NIS/TfOH was attempted on 2,3–unsaturated sugar with various alcohols and it was found that C-1 was the preferred reactive centre (Scheme 1) Scheme 1 In order to optimize the reaction for selective nucleophilic attack at C-3, further study was continued by using stoichiometric TfOH, in presence of acceptors alcohols with the intension to activate the double bond. The reaction led to the formation of 2-deoxy O-glycosides with the concomitant transposition of C-1 ethylthio-moiety to C-3 (Scheme 2). Scheme 2 An important observation was that the transposition of thioethyl group from C-1 to C-3 was highly regioselective. For example, with thiocresol as the nucleophile, there was an addition across the C-2-C-3 double bond to afford C-1, C-3-dithio derivative (Scheme 2). Thus, hard-soft nature of the nucleophiles, as well as, carbon centres helped to rationalize the reactivites. It was also observed that the intramolecular transposition of thioethyl group is highly stereo-controlled by equatorial C-4 acetoxy group. Thus, thioethyl nucleophile approached selectively at C-3 and afforded trans-diequatorial products. This rationalization was further confirmed through (i) reaction of benzyl protected 2,3-unsaturated thioglycoside, wherein a C-3 epimeric mixture was observed in 1:1 ratio; (ii) galactosyl derivative under similar reaction condition afforded anomeric mixture of 3-(4-methylphenylthio)-O-glycosides, with trans-diaxial orientation of substituent at C-3 (Scheme 3). Scheme 3 These reactions confirmed the role of C-4 substituent on the carbocation at C-3, through the presence or absence of a neighbouring group participation. In summary, in Chapter 2 the selective activation of either anomeric carbon or C-3 with proper choice of activation and reactivity control at each carbon will be described. Thioglycosides are excellent glyosyl donor and their glycosylation reactions were well explored. Upon indentifying the intramolecular transposition of thioalkyl/aryl functionality from C-1 to C-3, further investigations was undertaken to utilize the newly formed carbon sulfur bonds at C-3. Realizing a potential for such 3-alkyl/aryl thio 2-deoxy sugar, the Pummerer rearrangement was investigated. For this purpose, the thioalkyl/aryl moiety at C-3 was oxidized first to a sulfoxide. The resulting sulfoxide was allowed to undergo Pummerer rearrangement to afford vinyl sulfide (Scheme 4), resulting from the elimination of HOAc in the thioacetal formed in situ. Having implemented Pummerer rearrangement on a sugar substrate, synthetic utility of the rearrangement product, namely vinyl sulfide was undertaken. An effort to implement conjugate addition reaction was undertaken, which required the conversion of vinyl sulfide to vinyl sulfoxide in the first step. The conjugate addition reactions were first conducted with alkoxide nucleophiles. The reaction showed that addition of nucleophiles occurred from axial face to furnish manno-configured derivatives as a single diastereomer at sulfinyl sulfur in a moderate yield along with O-deacetylated product. It was also found that O-benzyl protected sugar vinyl sulfoxide was totally resistant to the conjugate addition reaction (Scheme 4). Scheme 4 In order to find the influence of the substituents in sulfoxide moiety in the addition of nucleophiles, additional study was conducted in which a less hindered thioethyl moiety was installed in place of p-tolylthio moiety. To install ethylthio moiety, a similar sequence of reaction was undertaken as described previously in Scheme 4. Conjugate addition reaction with alkoxide nucleophiles was conducted and analysis of the reaction showed that the addition of alkoxides remained similar, leading to the formation of manno-configuration of substituents (Scheme 5). Scheme 5 The configuration of the Michael adducts were ascertained from 1H NMR, as well as 2D NMR spectroscopies. H-1 of all adducts appeared as an apparent singlet, consistent with very small J1,2 values. Aryl vinyl sulfoxide afforded conjugate addition product at much higher ratio than corresponding alkyl vinyl sulfoxide. Thus, among aryl and alkyl vinyl sulfoxides, conjugate addition occurred better with the aryl vinyl sulfoxide, indicating a strong electronic effect of aryl group in stabilizing the conjugate anion which would form in situ during nucleophilic addition with vinyl sulfoxide. Therefore, p-tolylthio substituted vinyl sulfoxide served as a more efficient Michael acceptor when compared to the thioethyl substituted vinyl sulfoxide. Asymmetric environment of vinyl sulfoxides play a vital role during the reaction. Vinyl sulfoxides can exist in two stereochemically distinct conformation which makes the vinyl group electronically dissimilar. In one of the conformer S-O and C-C bonds are coplanar, whereas in the other conformation, these two bonds are opposite to each other. It is agreed generally that vinyl sulfoxides generally try to adopt the most reactive conformer during the reaction in which the C-C and S-O bonds are syn to each other. Thus, the preference for an axial attack would originate from a face anti to the lone pair of electrons on the sulfur of sulfoxide functionality, leading to the formation of the product with manno-configuration. As O-deacetylated vinyl sulfoxide was obtained along with the Michael adducts, it was assumed that one of the epimers of vinyl sulfoxide appeared to be more reactive when compared to the other. Chapter 3 describes implementation of a Pummerer rearrangement in order to synthesize a sugar vinyl sulfoxide and its conjugate addition reactions with alkoxide nucleophiles. The nucleophilic addition reactions of vinyl sulfoxide with other nucleophiles were studied further. The effect of the substituents of chiral sulfoxides in conjugate addition reactions was also incorporated in the course of reactions. Reactions of amines, carbon and sulfur nucleophiles were undertaken with p-tolylthio-substituted vinyl sulfoxides. The reactions showed formation of the addition-elimination products (Scheme 6). All primary amines, carbon and sulfur nucleophiles afforded C-2 axial epimer, namely, threo-epimer exclusively, wherein secondary amines furnished the equatorial vs axial epimer in 3:1 ratio. Scheme 6 In order to assess the course of the reaction, vinyl sulfoxide presenting a p-cumenethio¬moiety was installed in place of p-tolylthio moiety. Conjugate addition reactions were performed with both primary as well as secondary amines that showed formation of the C-2 epimeric mixtures. With both the primary and secondary amines C-2 equatorial epimer was found to be as the major product (Scheme 7). Scheme 7 In conjugate addition of vinyl sulfoxides, nucleophiles approach the olefinic face preferentially, which is anti to the electron rich sulfur lone pair of electrons and syn to the bulky aryl group. Therefore, C-2 axial epimer was observed as most favourable product. However, secondary amines remarkably influenced the pattern as well as selectivity of the reaction. Steric considerations were likely to dictate the overall reactivity with secondary amines which was even more pronounced when using p-cumenethio-substituted vinyl sulfoxide. Chapter 4 describes the conjugate additions as well as remote effect of aryl substituent on the selectivity of addition of amines on sugar sulfoxide In summary, the Thesis establishes: A new reactivity of switching and a selective activation of 2,3-unsaturated thioglycoside; A Pummerer rearrangement route in order to synthesize sugar vinyl sulfide for the first time, which on selective oxidation furnish a sugar vinyl sulfoxide, a useful precursor for conjugate addition reactions; An assessment of the stereoelectronic, as well as, steric effect of the chiral vinyl sulfoxide with various nucleophiles in conjugate addition reactions; Influence of the protecting groups were also studied in conjugate addition reactions. Overall the study presented in the Thesis provides a new insight to unsaturated sugars. The salient features of the present findings also showed that the intermediates such as C-3 substituted thioalkyl/aryl glycosides, vinyl sulfides, a variety of new C-2 substituted vinyl sulfoxides are also the potential sites for many types of modifications in monosaccharides. (For structural formula pl see the pdf file)

A series of chiral phosphinoferrocene amides was prepared by the condensation either of 1'- (diphenylphosphino)ferrocene-1-carboxylic acid (Hdpf) or its planar-chiral 1,2-isomers and amino acid methyl esters in the presence of peptide coupling agents. The resulting phosphinoamides were tested as ligands in Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate additions of diethylzinc to chalcones and in Pd-mediated asymmetric allylic substitution reactions of 1,3- diphenylallyl acetate with the respective nucleophile (alkylation, amination and etherification). The catalytic tests were focused on an optimization of the reaction parameters (solvent, temperature, base, metal/ligand ratio) and on survey of various substrates. Compounds based on Hdpf proved to be better ligands in both catalytic reactions than their planar chiral analogues. In order to rationalize the influence of the ligand structure on the reaction course and also to interpret the catalytic results, several model complexes were prepared and structurally characterized. Other three series of non-chiral complexes were prepared from the corresponding (η6 - arene)ruthenium(II) precursor and Hdpf-glycine conjugates; the neutral complexes of the type [(arene)RuCl2(Hdpf-Gly(R)-κP)] (arene = benzene, p-cymene, hexamethyl-benzene; R = OMe, NH2, OH) as well as two...

Ce travail de thèse est consacré à la synthèse de composés azotés biologiquement actifs s’inspirant notamment d’une réaction biosynthétique. Dans un premier temps, nos travaux avaient pour but de développer une nouvelle voie d’accès aux acides alpha-aminés par une réaction d’isomérisation énantiosélective d’imines. Après différentes études préliminaires, les meilleurs précurseurs d’acides alphaaminés par cette méthode que nous ayons identifiés sont les alpha céto amides. L’isomérisation 1,3 d’une imine formée à partir d’un alpha céto amide et de la diphénylméthanamine à l’aide de différents alcoolates chiraux a été réalisée. L’utilisation de l’alcoolate dérivé de la (+)-N-méthylpseudoéphédrine, employé en quantité sub-stœchiométrique, a permis d’obtenir l’alpha amino amide correspondant avec un excès énantiomérique de 67%. Il reste encore à mettre au point des conditions opératoires satisfaisantes pour la conversion de cet adduit en acide alpha aminé. L’étude de l’isomérisation 1,3 d’imines nous a permis de mettre en évidence une réaction de déshydrogénation 1,4 permettant d’accéder de façon originale à des 2-azadiènes et nécessitant la présence d’oxygène. Ainsi, plusieurs 2-azadiènes non activés ont été préparés par traitement basique d’imines issues de la condensation d’acétophénones et de diphénylméthanamine sous atmosphère d’air. Dans une dernière partie, l’étude de l’addition conjuguée d’une oxazolidinone chirale sur des alkylidènemalonates de dialkyle a été réalisée dans le but de développer une méthode d’accès à des acides alpha aminés. Les conditions opératoires mises au point ont permis d’obtenir une excellente diastéréosélectivité à partir de la plupart des alkylidènemalonates de dialkyle. / This thesis work is devoted to the synthesis of biologically active nitrogen-containing compounds, particularly inspired by a biosynthetic reaction. Initially, our work aimed to develop a new pathway to a-amino acids using anenantioselective imine isomerization reaction. After various preliminary studies, the best precursors of a-amino acids that we have identified are a-keto amides. The 1,3isomerization of an imine formed from an a-keto amide and diphenylmethanamine using various chiral alkoxides was then conducted. The alkoxide derived from (+)-N-méthylpseudoéphédrine, employed in sub-stoichiometric quantities, allowed obtaining the corresponding a-amino amide with 67% enantiomeric excess. It still remains to develop satisfactory operating conditions for the conversion of this adduct to an a-amino acid.The study of the 1,3 isomerization of imines allowed us to bring to light a 1,4 dehydrogenation reaction, which allows an original access to 2-azadienes and which requires the presence of oxygen. Thus, several non-activated 2-azadienes have been prepared by basic treatment of imines derived from acetophenones anddiphenylmethanamine, under air atmosphere.In the last part, the study of the conjugate addition of a chiral oxazolidinone on dialkyl alkylidenemalonates was carried out, with the aim to develop a method of access to enantiopure b-amino acids. Reactions conditions developed allowed to obtain an excellent diastereoselectivity from most dialkyl alkylidenemalonates.