Organolithiums are key reagents and intermediates in organic synthesis. An exciting and growing field is the use of organolithiums in enantioselective synthesis. The often complex nature of these compounds makes their implementation towards the synthesis of natural products or pharmaceutical targets a challenging yet rewarding endeavour. The ability of organolithiums to form carbon-carbon bonds in a stereoselective and predictable way is vital to their success in organic synthesis.<p> The first chapter in this thesis summarizes the current mechanistic understanding of asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation adjacent to nitrogen. A brief literature review is presented to illustrate the different ways in which a stereoselective lithiation/substitution reaction at carbon can occur. A review of the application of dipole-stabilized carbanions a to nitrogen used in the stereoselective synthesis of natural products is presented.<p> The second chapter in this thesis describes a study of the use of N-Boc-3-pyrroline, and related compounds, as molecular scaffolds for the stereoselective synthesis of functionalized five-membered ring containing alkaloids. The asymmetric alkylation of N-Boc-3-pyrroline is possible for simple alkyl halides but only modest enantioselectivity can be obtained using chiral lithium amides or s-butyl lithium/(-)-sparteine as bases. More promising was the enantioselective alkylation of a protected 3-pyrroline building block 116. The assignment for the stereochemistry of the alkylated product from 116 and benzaldehyde was achieved by NMR techniques and conformational analysis. The work done on the synthesis of enantiomerically pure castanospermine analogs is also presented.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Stephen F. Martin. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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Atropisomerism is a property exhibited by molecules where rotation about one or more bonds is restricted. Along with biaryls, which are widely utilised in asymmetric catalysis, several other classes of compounds display atropisomerism. These molecules have applications in enantioselective synthesis, asymmetric catalysis and have been used to relay stereochemical information. There are, however, a number of challenges associated with their asymmetric synthesis (Chapter 1). This thesis describes research carried out on the synthesis and asymmetric synthesis of atropisomeric diaryl ethers. Chapter 2.1 explains how these ethers are synthesised in multi-gram quantities and to allow the incorporation of large ortho substituents. Having a number of diaryl ethers with suitable substitution patterns to achieve atropisomerism, Chapter 2.2 goes on to report two novel and complimentary biocatalytic approaches to the enantioselective synthesis of diaryl ethers by desymmetrisation. This chapter also describes a possible route towards the synthesis of a diaryl ether based ligand. Chapter 2.3 reports the lateral lithiation of meso diaryl ethers to yield diastereomeric atropisomers stereoselectively. Our attempts to use (-)-sparteine in lateral lithiations to desymmetrise a diaryl ether enantioselectively is also described. We go on to determine the configurational integrity of our organolithiums and the reaction pathway that exists in lithium substitution. Finally, the diastereoselective synthesis of both a diaryl ether (via a stereoselective reduction of a pro-chiral ketone) and a diaryl sulfide (via an addition reaction) is described in chapter 2.4. This chapter also reports the conformational behaviour of a diaryl amide in solution.

Thesis advisor: Amir H. Hoveyda / Chapter 1. A Review of Sulfonate-Containing NHC Ligands in Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Transformations—Maneuvering Selectivities in Tight Space. A comprehensive review of enantioselective copper-catalyzed transformations, which are promoted by a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene metal complex that features a unique sulfonate motif, is provided in this chapter. Reactions have been categorized into four sets: allylic substitutions conjugate additions, Cu-B additions alkenes and multicomponent reactions. The mechanistic scenarios provided by DFT calculations accounts for their uniquely reaction profile in enantioselective allylic substitutions (EAS), enantioselective conjugate additions (EAS) and enantioselective Cu-B additions to alkenes. Mechanistic investigations (density functional theory calculations and deuterium labeling) point to a bridging function for an alkali metal cation connecting the sulfonate anion and a substrate’ s phosphate group to form the branched addition products as the dominant isomers via Cu(III) π -allyl intermediate complexes in EAS reactions. Sulfonate-bearing NHC ligand with different substitution patterns promote EAS reactions with different reactivity and enantioselectivity. We also developed a guideline to follow to choose the proper sulfonate-based NHC ligands according to the combination of the substrates and the nucleophiles. Chapter 2. NHC–Cu-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Substitutions with Silyl-protected Propargyl Boron Reagent to Generate Tertiary and Quaternary Carbon Stereogenic Centers. Catalytic allylic substitution reactions involving a propargylic nucleophilic component are presented; reactions are facilitated by 5.0 mol % of a catalyst derived from a chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and a copper chloride salt. A silyl-containing propargylic organoboron compound, easily prepared in multi-gram quantities, serves as the reagent. Aryl- and heteroaryl-substituted disubstituted alkenes within allylic phosphates and those with an alkyl or a silyl group can be used. Functional groups typically sensitive to hard nucleophilic reagents are tolerated, particularly in the additions to disubstituted alkenes. Reactions may be performed on the corresponding trisubstituted alkenes, affording quaternary carbon stereogenic centers. Incorporation of the propargylic group is generally favored (vs allenyl addition; 89:11 to >98:2 selectivity); 1,5-enynes can be isolated in 75−90% yield, 87:13 to >98:2 SN2′:SN2 (branched/linear) selectivity and 83:17−99:1 enantiomeric ratio. Utility is showcased by conversion of the alkynyl group to other useful functional units. Application to stereoselective synthesis of the acyclic portion of antifungal agent plakinic acid A, containing two remotely positioned stereogenic centers, by sequential use of two different NHC–Cu-catalyzed enantioselective allylic substitution (EAS) reactions further highlights utility. Chapter 3. NHC–Cu-Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Substitutions with Methylenediboron to Generate Tertiary and Quaternary Carbon Stereogenic Centers. A catalytic EAS method for the site- and enantioselective addition of commercially available di-B(pin)-methane to disubstituted allylic phosphates is introduced. Transformations are facilitated by a sulfonate-containing NHC–Cu complex and products are obtained in 63–95% yield, 88:12 to >98:2 SN2’/SN2 selectivity, and 85:15–99:1 enantiomeric ratio. The utility of the approach is highlighted by its application to the formal synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product rhopaloic acid A, in an all-catalytic-method synthesis route. Catalytic EAS methods of the di-B(pin) methane to Z-trisubstituted allylic phosphates are also disclosed and DFT calculations provide insights to the stereochemical models for those transformations and rationales for the choice of Z-trisubstituted allylic phosphates as the starting materials. Chapter 4. Enantioselective NHC–Cu-Catalyzed Prenyl Conjugate Additions to Enoates to Generate Tertiary Carbon Stereogenic Centers. An efficient catalytic protocol for generation of prenyl-bearing tertiary carbon stereogenic centers from aryl-substituted enoates was achieved in the presence of a chiral alkoxy-based NHC–Cu complex. A range of aryl and heteroaryl-substituted substrate were suitable substrates, the corresponding prenyl conjugate addition products were generated in up to 94% yield and 95:5 enantioselectivity. The utility of the current method has been shown in the application to the synthesis of a selective integrin antagonist. DFT calculations provided a stereochemical model for the ECA reaction employing alkoxy-containing NHC–Cu catalyst. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

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Thesis advisor: Jason S. Kingsbury / The research of diazoalkanes dates back more than 100 years, yet a disproportionally small number of methods have been developed to utilize their unique reactivity patterns. This review seeks to analyze the history of methods used to synthesize diazoalkanes and to highlight the parallel growth in methods for their use in carbonyl expansion reactions. The development of Sc(III)-catalyzed ring expansion of cyclic ketones with non-stabilized diazoalkanes is presented. A brief overview of previous contributions to ring expansion methodology is presented in order to provide appropriate context to newly discovered methods. Our strategy for method development centered on several issues of practicality with regard to efficient synthesis of diazo nucleophiles as well as their safe handling. The results of this initial discovery laid the groundwork for the development of the first catalytic enantioselective ring expansion of cyclic ketones with diazoalkanes. As well as an improved methylene insertion reaction of silyl-substituted diazomethanes. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.