In this thesis, carbohydrate mimicry is investigated through the syntheses of carbohydrate analogues and evaluation of their inhibitory effects on carbohydrate-processing enzymes. Galactofuranosides are interesting structures because they are common motifs in pathogenic microorganisms but not found in mammals. M.tuberculosis, responsible for the disease tuberculosis, has a cell wall containing a repeating unit of alternating (1→5)- and (1→6)-linked β-D-galactofuranosyl residues. Synthetic inhibitors of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the cell wall could find great therapeutic use. The first part of this thesis describes the first synthesis of the hydrolytically stable carbasugar analogue of galactofuranose, 4a-carba-β-D-Galf, and the synthetic work of synthesising β-linked pseudodisaccharides containing carba-Galf, which were tested for glycosyltransferease inhibitory activity. The pseudodisaccharide carba-Galf-(β1→5)-carba-Galf was found to be a moderate inhibitor of the glycosyltransferase GlfT2 of M.tuberculosis. The thesis also describes how a general method towards biologically relevant α-linked carba-Galf ethers was developed. The final part of this thesis is focussed on the formation of nitrogen-linked monosaccharides without the participation of the anomeric centre. Such a mode of coupling is called tail-to-tail neodisaccharide formation. The couplings of carbohydrate derivatives via the Mitsunobu reaction are successfully reported herein. The method describes the key introduction of an allylic alcohol in the electrophile and the subsequent functionalisation of the alkene to obtain the neodisaccharide. Two synthesised neodisaccharides presented in this thesis have been sent to be tested for glycosidase inhibitory activity. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript. Paper 5: Manuscript. Paper 6: Manuscript.

The thesis entitled “Chemistry of Tetrathiomolybdate and Tetraselenotungstate: Studies on Aziridine and Epoxide Ring Opening Reactions” is divided into five chapters. (For Formulas and Equations Refer PDF File) Chapter 1: Part 1: Synthesis of β-Sulfonamidodisulfides and β-Sulfonamidosulfides using Benzyltriethylammonium Tetrathiomolybdate In this chapter, a comprehensive study of general and effective one step procedure for the synthesis of β-sulfonamidodisulfides directly from optically pure N-tosyl aziridines using benzyltriethylammonium tetrathiomolybdate [BnEt3N]2MoS4 as sulfur transfer reagent in a regio manner under neutral conditions without the use of any Lewis acid or base has been reported. Additionally, we have demonstrated regio- and stereospecific ring opening of di- and trisubstituted aziridines using [BnEt3N]2MoS4 to synthesize substituted β-sulfonamidodisulfides in good yields. This methodology is extended to the synthesis of an optically pure unnatural amino acid with the disulfide bridge and a cyclic seven membered disulfide. Synthesis of a variety of β-sulfonamidosulfides involving cleavage of disulfide bonds assisted by tetrathiomolybdate and the use of masked thiolate for the synthesis of β-sulfonamidosulfides involving multi-step reactions in a one pot is also demonstrated. Chapter 1: Part 2: Synthesis of β-Sulfonamidodiselenides using Tetraethylammonium Tetraselenotungstate In this chapter, we report the results of regio- and stereospecific, nucleophilic ring opening of chirally pure N-tosyl aziridines with tetraethylammonium tetraselenotungstate [Et4N]2WSe4 as selenium transfer reagent to afford a number of β- sulfonamidodiselenides in good yields. Using this methodology, carbohydrate derived β- sulfonamidodiselenides from the corresponding carbohydrate derived aziridines have been synthesized. These enantiopure diselenide derivatives have the potential to be used as chiral ligands in diethyl zinc addition to aldehydes. Chapter 2: Ring Opening of Aziridine/Epoxide, Disulfide Formation, Reduction of Disulfide Bond and Michael Reaction In this chapter, we report a systematic study of tetrathiomolybdate mediated tandem regio- and stereospecific ring opening of aziridines, disulfide formation, in situ reduction of disulfide bond followed by Michael reaction in an one pot operation to give a variety of β-sulfonamidosulfides in good yields. The main advantage of this methodology is that four reactions involving three components take place in a one-pot operation. Chapter 3: Part 1: New Thia-aza Payne type Rearrangement Mediated by Benzyltriethylammonium Tetrathiomolybdate In this chapter, reaction of aziridinemethanol sulfonate esters with tetrathiomolybdate to give thiirane derivatives as the major product and cyclic disulfides as minor product under mild reaction conditions via an unprecedented thia-aza-Payne type rearrangement have been presented. Interestingly, when the reaction of tetrathiomolybdate was carried out with 2-aziridino-cyclohexanol derivatives it resulted in the formation of thia-bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane or dithia-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives. Chapter 3: Part 2: New selena-aza Payne Type Rearrangement Mediated by Tetraethylammonium Tetraselenotungstate In this chapter, reaction of tetraselenotungstate with simple N-tosyl aziridinemethanol tosylates to give allyl amine derivatives as the only product via an unprecedented selena-aza-Payne type rearrangement is discussed. When the methodology is extended to disubstituted N-tosyl aziridinemethanol tosylates, regio- and stereospecific ring opening of aziridines occurs to afford allyl amine derivatives as the major products and cyclic five membered diselenides as the minor products in good yields. Chapter 3: Part 3: Synthesis of Sulfur and Selenium Heterocycles by Azirdine Ring Opening followed by Cyclization In this chapter, studies on the synthesis of sulfur and selenium-heterocycles by aziridine ring opening followed by cyclization of N-tosyl aziridino-ethanol tosylates using tetrathiomolybdate as a sulfur transfer reagent and tetraselenotungstate as a selenium transfer reagent respectively are presented. Chapter 4: Tetrathiomolybdate Mediated Ring Opening of bis-Aziridines, bis-Epoxides and Aziridino-epoxides In this chapter, studies on the synthesis and ring opening of bis-aziridines, bis-epoxides and aziridino-epoxides with tetrathiomolybdate as the sulfur transfer reagent are presented. This has resulted in the synthesis of optically active sulfur heterocycles ranging from three membered to eight membered ring systems with excellent stereo and regio- control in good yields. Chapter 5: Part 1: Synthesis of Conformationally Locked, Bridged, Bicyclic Mono and Disulfides In this chapter, work related to the synthesis of conformationally locked bridged bicyclic disulfides and sulfides from cis-aziridino-epoxides by ring opening of both aziridines and epoxides in a tandem fashion using tetrathiomolybdate as a sulfur transfer reagent has been discussed. Comparative studies on the behavior of conformationally locked disulfides which has the dihedral angle close to zero (φ = 0) with disulfides having larger dihedral angles (φ>90) have been presented in this chapter. Some correlations have been made on the physicochemical characteristics of the disulfides with change in the dihedral angles. Chapter 5: Part 2: Synthesis of Conformationally Locked, Bridged, Bicyclic Diselenides In this chapter, work related to the development of a general synthetic methodology for the synthesis of conformationally locked, bridged diselena-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton by regio- and stereospecific, tandem nucleophilic ring opening of cis-1,4-aziridino-epoxides with tetraselenotungstate in one-pot are presented. To compare the behavior of conformationally locked diselenides which has the dihedral angle close to zero (φ = 0) with diselenides having larger dihedral angles (φ > 90), we have synthesized the acyclic diselenide (see chapter 1.2) and cyclic diselenide by regio- and stereospecific ring opening of simple aziridine and bis-aziridine respectively with tetraselenotungstate. Some correlations have been made on the physicochemical characteristics of the diselenides with change in the dihedral angles.

Blueberry spanworm, Itame argillacearia (Packard), is an important defoliator of wild (syn. ‘lowbush’) blueberry in north-eastern North America. Identification of I. argillacearia sex pheromone(s) could be useful for monitoring, mating disruption or mass trapping, as a way to improve integrated pest management programs for this pest. Thus, the main goal of this study was to identify sex pheromone(s) of I. argillacearia. The courtship, mating and oviposition patterns of I. argillaceara, was studied in the laboratory. GC/MS, GC/EAD and EAG analysis of pheromone gland extracts, in combination with y-tube experiments and two field trapping studies confirmed the chiral-alkenyl-epoxide, (3R,4S)-epoxy-(Z,Z)-6,9-17:H and tri-ene, (Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9-17:H as the major female-produced sex pheromone components. Contech Wing traps® placed at canopy level were effective for capturing male I. argillacearia moths.

Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2000--Dresden.

This thesis describes the synthesis and characterisation of novel mono and dinuclear homogenous [Zn(II)] and [In(III)] metal complexes. Their applications as catalysts for CO₂/epoxide or epoxide/anhydride ring opening copolymerisation and lactide ring opening polymerisation to generate polycarbonates and polyesters, respectively, are also reported. Chapter 3 reports the first indium phosphasalen catalysts for CO₂/cyclohexene oxide ring opening copolymerization. The catalysts are active at 1 bar pressure of CO₂ and are most effective without any co-catalyst. It is also possible to use the complexes to isolate and characterise the key intermediates in the catalytic cycle. Kinetic and spectroscopic analyses show that polymerisation proceeds via a rare cis-mononuclear coordination- insertion mechanism. Chapter 4 describes a series of mono and dinuclear zinc macrocycle catalysts with very high activities for the racemic lactide ring opening polymerisation. In most cases, the dinuclear zinc catalysts significantly out-perform the mono-zinc homologue. In addition, kinetic and spectroscopic investigations suggest a role for the ligand conformation in mediating rate. The catalysts perform very well under immortal conditions and operate at low catalyst loading, whilst conserving high activities. Chapter 5 presents four dinuclear zinc acetate salen catalysts for the ring opening copolymerisation of CO₂/cyclohexene oxide and phthalic anhydride/cyclohexene oxide. The catalysts show moderate activities for CO₂/epoxide copolymerisation but are highly active for epoxide/anhydride copolymerisation. Structure/activity relationship studies reveal that the more flexible and electron donating ligand displays the highest activity. Poly(ester-b-carbonate)s are also afforded using the most active catalyst in terpolymerisations of anhydride/epoxide/CO₂.

O ácido araquidônico (AA) é precursor na formação dos eicosanoides, que são mediadores lipídicos com uma série de funções na fisiologia e patologia humana. A maioria dos eicosanoides atuam como mediadores pró-inflamatórios e contribuem para o desenvolvimento e proliferação de tumores. Nesta tese foram avaliados dois mediadores: a 15-deoxi-Δ12,14-PGJ2 (15d- PGJ2) e os ácidos Epoxieicosatrienoicos (EETs), ambos apresentam uma atividade oposta a da maioria dos eicosanoides, ou seja, com uma ação anti-inflamatória e antitumoral. Esses dois mediadores distintos da via do AA foram utilizados nesta tese em dois projetos distintos. Primeiro: A 15d- PGJ2 possui uma atividade antiproliferativa e induziu apoptose para diversos tipos de células tumorais, entretanto, o efeito da15d- PGJ2 em células de cancer da tireoide ainda estava desconhecido. Neste sentido, foram cultivadas in vitro células tumorais da tireoide, da linhagem TPC1, e tratadas com diferentes concentrações de 15d- PGJ2 (0 ate 20 μM), as células tratadas demonstraram uma diminuição na proliferação, e aumento na apoptose, e uma diminuição na liberação e expressão relativa de IL-6. Estes resultados em conjunto sugerem que a 15d- PGJ2 pode ser utilizada como uma nova terapia para o cancer da tireoide. Segundo: Os EETs são metabolizados em seus diois pela epóxi hidrolase solúvel (sEH), para manter a estabilidade dos EETs e a sua atividade antiiflamatoria, foi utilizado um inibidor (TPPU) para sEH em um modelo de periodontite induzida por Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. O tratamento oral com TPPU, assim como o uso de animais sEH Knockout, levou a uma redução na perda óssea acompanhada da diminuição de moléculas osteoclastogenicas como RANK, RANKL e OPG, demonstrando que a inibição farmacológica da sEH pode ter um valor terapêutico na periodontite e doenças inflamatórias que envolvem a reabsorção óssea. / Arachidonic acid (AA) a precursor in the formation of eicosanoids which are lipid mediators with a number of functions in human physiology and pathology. The most of the eicosanoids act as proinflammatory mediators and contribute to the development and proliferation of tumors. In this thesis we evaluated two mediators: 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ2 (15d- PGJ2) and epoxieicosatrienoic acids (EETs) both act with an opposite activity of most eicosanoids, with an anti-inflammatory and and anti-tumoral action these two distinct mediators from AA pathway were used in this thesis in two different projects. First: 15d- PGJ2, was described that to have an antiproliferative activity and to induce apoptosis in several types of tumor cells however, the effect of 15d- PGJ2 in thyroid cancer cells was unknown in this sense, we tested in vitro cultured thyroid tumor cells, here in TPC1 cells, and treated with different concentrations of 15d- PGJ2 (0 to 20 uM) the treated cells showed a decrease in proliferation and an increase in apoptosis and a decrease in IL-6 release and relative expression. These key results together demonstrate that 15d- PGJ2 can be used as a new therapy for thyroid cancer. Second: The EETs are converted to their diols by soluble epoxy hydrolase (sEH) to maintain the stability of EETs and their anti-inflammatory activity, an inhibitor (TPPU) against was used to sEH in a periodontitis model induced with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The oral treatment in mice with TPPU and sEH Knockout animals showed bone loss reduction accompanied by a decrease in the osteoclastogenic molecules, like RANK, RANKL and OPG, demonstrating that pharmacological inhibition of sEH may have therapeutic value in periodontitis and inflammatory diseases that involve bone resorption. / Tese (Doutorado)

A metagenômica trouxe novas perspectivas ao estudo de comunidades microbianas no ambiente, permitindo explorar tanto a diversidade taxonômica de microrganismos ainda não-cultivados, como o acesso direto a genes e vias metabólicas. Neste trabalho, foram construídas bibliotecas metagenômicas a partir de amostras de sedimentos de mangue da Baía de Guanabara (RJ), impactadas com hidrocarbonetos de petróleo e metais pesados. Proteobacteria (33,3%), bactérias afiliadas a redutoras-de-sulfato (29,7%) e Firmicutes (20%) representaram os grupos principais nas amostras ambientais, baseado em análises filogenéticas de rDNA 16S, ao passo que isolamentos seletivos utilizando diesel e naftaleno permitiram a recuperação preferencial de delta-Proteobacteria e actinomicetos. Bibliotecas metagenômicas dos sedimentos enriquecidos com óleo diesel, com insertos entre 25 e 35 Kb clonados em fosmídeos, foram triadas para detecção de genes catabólicos de monoxigenases (alkB1) e expressão de epóxido-hidrolases, esterases, lipases e monoxigenases em ensaios de alto desempenho (HTS, high throughput screening). Clones reativos a alkB1 foram detectados, porém não foram funcionais nas condições de HTS testadas. Nas bibliotecas de fosmídeos triadas, vários clones apresentaram atividade enzimática, sendo que dois apresentaram atividade de lipase-esterase com alta seletividade, elevada taxa de conversão de substratos e excesso enantiomérico (ee >99%). Os resultados de HTS comprovaram a eficiência do uso da clonagem direta de DNA ambiental na expressão de vias metabólicas de interesse com potencial de aplicação biotecnológica. / Metagenomics brought a new perspective to the study of microbial communities in the environment, enabling access to the taxonomic diversity of uncultured microorganisms, as well as direct access to genes and metabolic pathways. In the current study, metagenomic libraries were constructed from mangrove sediment samples of the Guanabara Bay (RJ, Brazil), impacted with oil hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Proteobacteria (33.3%), sulfate-reducing affiliated bacteria (29.7%) and Firmicutes (20%) represented the main groups in the environmental samples based upon 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis, whereas selective isolation using diesel and naphtalene yielded delta-Proteobacteria and actinomycetes. Metagenomic libraries of diesel-enriched sediment samples, with 25 to 35 Kb fosmid inserts, were screened for detecting monooxigenase genes (alkB1) and expression of epoxide hydrolases, esterases, lipases and monooxigenases in high throughput screening (HTS) assays. Clones reactive to the alkB1 probe were detected, but were not functional under the HTS conditions used. Several functional clones were detected in the clone library, and two showed lipase-esterase activity with high rates of substrate conversion and enantiomeric ratio (ee >99%). The results obtained on HTS showed the efficiency of the direct cloning of environmental DNA for the expression of metabolic pathways with potential biotechnological application.

The presented work deals with preparation of test samples filled microparticles of mica and nanoparticles of silicon dioxide (SiO2). Monitors the impact of climatic conditions and filler on electrical properties of composite materials. Electrical properties of composite materials are measured by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. Test samples influence of epoxide resin TSA 220S and polyester resin DOLPHON XL 2102. Varnishes are modified with different weight percentage of nanoparticles of silicon dioxide, or micronized mica. The results of this project are frequency dependencies of parts of complex permittivity and their evaluation.

L'utilisation du CO2 comme matière première pour la synthèse de produits à haute valeur ajoutée, comme les carbonates cycliques, est aujourd'hui l'une des alternatives proposées dans la réduction des émissions gazeuses à effet de serre. Ce travail de thèse vise à comprendre et concevoir un procédé de valorisation de CO2 à partir de la modélisation de la thermodynamique et des cinétiques de transfert de matière et de réactions, qui sont engendrées dans la synthèse de carbonates cycliques à partir des époxydes et un composé hétérocyclique comme catalyseur. Grâce à ce nouveau système, les carbonates cycliques très utilisés dans l'industrie de polymères, cosmétique ou pharmaceutique, sont obtenus avec de bons rendements, dans des conditions opératoires douces et en absence de solvants. Des propriétés thermodynamiques telles que la solubilité et la constante de Henry ont été estimées pour les systèmes binaires CO2/époxyde. L'étude du transfert de matière sans ou avec réactions a permis de déterminer respectivement le coefficient de transfert de matière en phase liquide et le régime de la réaction. Des suivis cinétiques ont été réalisés afin de proposer un modèle cinétique capable de représenter la réaction et d'estimer les paramètres cinétiques. Ces derniers ont été utilisés pour la conception préliminaire et la simulation du procédé de production du carbonate d' épichlorohydrine sur Aspen Hysys. / Today, the utilisation of CO2 as raw material for the synthesis of high-value added products like cyclic carbonates, is one of the alternatives used for reducing greenhouse gases. This thesis aims to understand and design a CO2 valorisation process by modelling the thermodynamic and the mass transfer/reaction kinetics generated during the cyclic carbonates synthesis from CO2, epoxides and a heterocyclic compound as catalyst. By using this new catalytic system, cyclic carbonates, which are used in the polymeric, pharmaceutic or cosmetic industry, can be produced with good yields at low temperatures and pressures and without any solvent. Thermodynamic properties as solubility and Henry's law constant have been estimated for CO2/epoxide binary systems. Mass transfer occurring without and with reaction has been studied in order to determine respectively the liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient and the reaction regime. A kinetic study has been performed to propose a model able to represent the reaction and to estimate the kinetic parameters. This information has been used in the design and the simulation of the production process of epichlorohydrin carbonate on Aspen Hysys.

Homopolymers and copolymers produced from aromatic based methacrylates, acrylates, and dimethacrylates are excellent materials with many applications in dentistry, microelectronics, and optics, including optical eye wear, fiber optics, and non-linear optics, such as holography. Carbazole based polymers have demonstrated good optical, photo-refractive, and charge-transporting properties, combined with ease of processing. The objective of this research was to design, synthesize, and characterize high refractive index polymers and copolymers for use in optical spectacle lenses of eyeglasses. Additionally, other interesting attributes were observed for selected carbazole based polymers, such as high thermal stability and birefringence, which could lend these materials to other uses, such as non-linear optics and electronic data storage. A family of novel, high refractive index homopolymers and copolymers were synthesized by incorporating carbazole, along with other aromatic substituents, into methacrylates, acrylates, and dimethacrylates. Subsequent free radical polymerizations provided for high refractive index materials well suited for lightweight optical spectacles and other applications. The refractive index of materials can be increased by increasing the polarizability of substituent groups. By incorporating oxygen, sulfur, or sulfoxide groups into polymers, high refractive index polymers have been attained. By reacting the phenol, aromatic diols, or aromatic thiols with 9-(2,3-epoxypropyl)-carbazole, the refractive index of the final polymer can be increased further. The reaction of the carbazole based intermediate with methacryloyl chloride or methacrylic anhydride eliminated any hydroxyl groups in the final methacrylate or dimethacrylate. Hydroxyl groups undergo intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which increases viscosity. The absence of hydrogen bonding in the final methacrylated monomers reduces viscosity, which is desirable for processing. Novel carbazole based monomers and polymers were characterized in terms of molecular composition and molecular weight, thermal properties, such as melting point, glass transition temperature, and decomposition, and in terms of optical properties, such as refractive index. The AIBN initiated carbazole-phenoxy based methacrylate polymerization was followed using in-situ FTIR, which showed the reaction to be completed within 40 minutes in DMAC at 90°C. Photo-DSC was used to determine the heat of polymerization (DHp) for the carbazole-phenoxy based methacrylate, which was found to be -39.4 kJ/mole. One and two dimensional 1H NMR was used to characterize the molecular structure of the carbazole-phenoxy based methacrylate monomer. The carbazole-phenoxy based methacrylate homopolymer had a surprisingly high decomposition temperature. 13C NMR spectroscopy experiments and molecular modeling were employed to explore the configuration of the polymerized carbazole-phenoxy based methacrylate. The lack of head-to-head linkages due to steric considerations could explain the higher thermal stability observed for the carbazole-phenoxy based methacrylate polymer. Refractive indices of these carbazole based methacrylates, acrylates, and dimethacrylate polymers ranged from 1.53 to 1.63. Statistical copolymers of carbazole based methacrylates with methyl methacrylate were also produced by solution polymerization in DMAC, and characterized. Using free radical polymerization techniques, homopolymers and copolymers of the carbazole functionalized methacrylates, acrylates, and dimethacrylates were readily obtained. This research demonstrated a variety of carbazole based chemistries which could produce controlled linear and cross-linked materials with high refractive index values and other interesting features. / Ph. D.