The main focus of the current dissertation thesis is research of gold catalyzed reactions. I was using mass spectrometry as the primary research technique. I complemented the results with infrared multiphoton dissociation spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. I have investigated the interaction of the gold(I) cation with unsaturated hydrocarbons in the first part of my thesis. Secondly, I have studied gold(I) or silver(I) affinity to gold acetylides. In the last part, I have investigated the reaction mechanism of a gold mediated addition of methanol to alkynes. I found out that the gold(I) cation interacts stronger with gold acetylides than with nonactivated triple CC bonds. I showed that the complexes containing two gold atoms represent the key intermediates in the mechanism of addition of methanol to alkynes and that the ligand on the gold catalyst plays a fundamental role in the determination of the mechanism. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

In the last century, no less than five nobel prizes have been awarded for the construction of carbon-carbon bonds : The Grignard reaction (1912), the Diels-Alder reaction (1950), the Wittig reaction (1979), Olefin metathesis (2005) and palladium cross-coupling reactions (2011). The latter two are transition metal catalyzed transformations and their impact on the synthesis of pharmaceutically active compounds, bulk chemicals, fine chemicals, high tech materials as well as agricultural chemicals has been phenomenal. These reactions have changed the way the scientific community views the science of synthesis. Unlike palladium, gold has long been considered to be an expensive and inert metal and therefore, research on Au catalysis was scarse until the begining of the new millenium. Once the scientific community realized the treasure trove of reactivity that gold had to offer, the number of chemical transformations as well as total syntheses involving Au(I)/Au(III) catalysis has sky rocketed. A methodology initially developped by Toste and coworkers has shown that intramolecular addition of a silyl enol ether on alkynes proceeds via a 5-exo¬-dig¬ process. In the first part of this thesis, we will discuss how the ancilary ligand on Au(I) species can influence pathway selectivity for these cyclizations, therefore opening the door to selective 6-endo-dig cyclizations to generate fused carbocycles. With biological processes as well as other competing processes becoming ever more efficient, the future of chemical synthesis is threatened. If it is to survive, the focus of new chemical transformations will have to be on the cost and the greeness of the process. In the second part of this thesis, we will demonstrate how Ag(I) and Cu(I) complexes can offer even better 6-endo-dig¬ selectivity than analogous Au(I) complexes. Silver is about 56 times less expensive than gold, and copper is about 453 times less expensive than gold. Due to the greatly increased selectivity as well as the diminished cost of the catalysts, we have provided access to an attractive 6-endo-dig¬ cyclization process.

Gold catalysis has attracted much attention within the chemical community in recent years, and its importance as a synthetic tool has only started to be uncovered. This thesis describes the development of a gold(I) catalyzed transformation and its application to the synthesis of a structurally unique Lycopodium alkaloid, Magellanine. Although there have been a few reports on the synthesis of the magellanane core to date, the approach described herein would represent a new and efficient strategy to construct the angularly fused tetracyclic core. The 5 exo dig/Prins reaction that would be the key step of the synthesis was first developed and studied on a model substrate, enabling the verification of the hypothesis that this transformation could indeed form the A and B rings of Magellanine and be applied to its synthesis. This reaction formed the tricyclic products in good yields and in good exo:endo ratios. The synthesis of Magellanine was undertaken, but problems of isomerization prevented the synthesis of the desired 5 exo dig/Prins substrate, which contained the C and D rings of Magellanine with a cis relationship at the ring junction. However, an almost identical substrate, save for a trans configuration between the C and D rings instead of the cis configuration, was prepared and served in further establishing the applicability of this methodology to the synthesis of Magellanine by successfully undergoing the 5-exo-dig/Prins reaction and generating the tetracyclic products. Studies of the steps following the key transformation were performed on the model substrate, allowing for the evaluation of these steps prior to their use in the synthesis. The results of the studies indicate a possible need to revisit the order in which the steps should be carried out. Promising solutions to the different obstacle encountered during the work are presented, demonstrating how the synthesis of Magellanine through a route featuring the 5-exo-dig/Prins cyclization is attainable.

This is a thesis in two parts. Part A examines two potential routes towards the synthesis of the communesin family of alkaloids, as well as an overview of some of the successful synthetic routes to date. Our first proposed route involves the gold catalyzed isomerization of an o-amino aryallene to a vinyl imine and subsequent (formal) cycloaddition with an indole. This would have allowed quick access to the pentacyclic core of the communesins; however, the unexpected 5-endo-dig product was exclusively obtained in good to excellent yields. The second route involves the use of a Meerwein- Eschenmoser Claisen rearrangement. This route was successful in affording the C, D, E and F rings of the communesin alkaloids, however future work is required for completion of the synthesis. Also discussed in these sections is an alternative endgame approach involving a novel Pictet-Spangler reaction to afford the G ring, and the possibility of an asymmetric variation to the proposed route. Part B examines the use of alkyl aluminum sesquichlorides in the catalysis of Diels-Alder cycloadditions of sterically hindered systems, a current obstacle in organic chemistry. Previously developed methods are discussed and preliminary results are presented. Ethyl aluminum sesquichloride is compared to other alkyl aluminum catalyst, and the effects of temperature, catalysts loading, choice of solvent, the use of additives, and the use of chiral oxazolidinones are reported and what these result can tell us about the mechanism of catalysis are discussed.

Polycyclic Polyprenylated Acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) are a vast family of natural products, which includes more than 200 members. They contain a stunningly complex molecular architecture which in most cases includes a bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core. PPAPs have been of interest to the scientific community for their intricate structure, their powerful aid in treating many ailments and large portfolio of biological activities. More particularly, they have been of synthetic interest since 1999 with the first report of an approach to these complicated cores by Nicolaou. Herein, we present the first total synthesis of papuaforin A, papuaforin B, papuaforin C, hyperforin and the formal synthesis of nemorosone following a report by Simpkins and co-workers. We relied on a gold(I)-catalyzed carbocyclization for the construction of the core of this family of natural products. Ginkgolides are isolated from the ginko tree, Ginkgo biloba, a living fossil with records of its existence dating back 280 million years. For centuries, the plant and its extracts have been used extensively for their beneficial properties, especially in China, Japan and India. For example, extract Egb761, one of the most potent fraction, generates over $500 million a year alone. The ginkgolides possess a truly unique compact diterpene framework of six 5-membered rings with a high content oxygen. Eleven oxygens can be found in ginkgolide C for a core containing only 23 carbons. The ginkgolides also include a very unique feature: a tert-butyl group located on the most convoluted ring system: the B ring. Few groups have found success in limning a synthetic route to ginkgolides. Corey’s group was the first to achieve the total synthesis of ginkgolide B in 1987. He was also able to complete ginkgolide A a year later. Crimmins and co-workers also achieved the total synthesis of ginkgolide B a decade later in 1999. Herein, we present our new approach toward ginkgolides through a newly developed methodology for the α-allylation of ketones and the creation of highly hindered contiguous quaternary centers. The synthesis is still at an early stage but a synthetic pathway giving access to the ring B with all the key moieties has been extensively investigated.

Les phosphines jouent un rôle central dans la chimie organique moderne. Dans le domaine de la catalyse, les composés organophosphorés peuvent être appliqués soit en tant qu’organocatalyseurs dans de nombreuses transformations, soit en tant que ligands en catalyse organométallique. Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons utilisé les phosphines dans ces deux applications : en organocatalyse et en catalyse asymétrique à l’or(I). Dans la première partie, nous avons développé une réaction d’addition de Michael/réaction de Wittig intramoléculaire. Nous avons judicieusement choisi la phosphine utilisée ainsi que l’agent réducteur afin de permettre la réduction in situ de l’oxyde de phosphine correspondant. De nombreux dérivés 1,2-dihydroquinolines diversement fonctionnalisés ont pu être isolés avec de bons rendements. Parallèlement à cela, une nouvelle réaction d’oléfination a pu être découverte, donnant accès à des dérivés succinates. Un mécanisme réactionnel a pu être proposé, en se basant notamment sur des expériences de deutération. Dans un deuxième temps, nous nous sommes intéressés au développement de réactions énantiosélectives catalysées par des complexes chiraux d’or(I), et utilisant des substrats énynes. Une première réaction de cyclisation d’énynes-1,5, suivie d’une addition nucléophile a été développée en utilisant des complexes d’or de structure TADDOL-phosphoramidite-AuCl. Ce catalyseur a permis l’obtention de vingt dérivés cyclopentènes avec de bons rendements et des excès énantiomériques atteignant 94% ee. Finalement, des substrats énynes-1,6 correctement substitués ont été utilisés dans une réaction de cyclisation, suivie d’un piégeage intramoléculaire, afin de donner accès à des composés tétracycliques et pentacycliques complexes. Les composés racémiques ont été isolés avec de bons rendements et la version asymétrique a également été développée, par l’utilisation de complexes chiraux d’or(I). / Phosphines play a major role in modern organic chemistry. In the field of catalysis, organophosphorus derivatives can be applied as catalysts in numerous transformations by itself, as organocatalysts, or as ligands in organometallic catalysis. This thesis focused on the application of phosphines both in phosphine organocatalysis and in asymmetric gold(I) catalysis. In the organophosphorus catalysis part, we have developed a phosphine-catalyzed Michael addition/Wittig reaction by using a well-chosen cyclic phosphine catalyst. In this process, silane was used as reducing agent to selectively reduce in situ the phosphine oxide. A series of highly functionalized 1,2-dihydroquinolines were prepared. Besides, a new olefination process was discovered for the synthesis of succinate derivatives. Detailed mechanism research was carried out with H/D exchange experiments. In the asymmetric gold(I) catalysis part, we have developed two new methodologies based on cyclization reactions of 1,n-enyne substrates. A 1,5-enyne cyclization/nucleophilic addition reaction was first developed with an acyclic TADDOL-derived phosphoramidite-Au(I) complex. Twenty examples were carried out with good to excellent yields and up to 94% enantiomeric excess. For the 1,6-enyne cyclization/intramolecular nucleophilic addition sequence, we have synthesized a range of racemic tetracyclic and pentacyclic compounds in high yields. The enantioselective version of this transformation was carried out successfully with both high reactivity and enantioselectivity.

The ability of gold(I) to activate many types of unsaturated bonds toward nucleophilic attack was not widely recognized until the early 2000s. One major challenge in gold catalysis is the control over regioselectivity when there are two or more possible products as a result of complicated mechanistic pathways. It is well know that the choice of ligand can have dramatic effects on which pathway is being followed but very rarely are the reasons for this selectivity understood. The synthesis of new acyclic diaminocarbenes was developed and a study of the ligand effects on the regioselectivity of a gold-catalyzed domino enyne cyclization hydroarylation reaction and a Nazarov cyclization was undertaken. New chiral acyclic diaminocarbenes were also developed and tested along side new C3-symmetric phosphite ligands in an asymmetric intramolecular hydroamination of allenes. Structure activity correlations were developed for the potential use in further rational ligand design. The synthesis of 6a,7-dihydro-5-amino-dibenzo[c,g]chromene derivatives via a gold-catalyzed domino reaction of alkynylbenzaldehydes in the presence of secondary amines was developed. These were sent to be screened for biological activity.

The neoclerodane furanoditerpenoid family of natural products is a compelling target for a divergent total synthesis due to the complexity around their spirolactone-containing decalin core, the similarities between their functional groups, and biological activities that indicate a potential for future medicinal application. While being a relatively small molecule, the most structurally complex compound of the family, teucrin A, contains six stereocenters, five of which are contiguous. Our divergent synthesis route involves the stereo-controlled formation of a common decalin intermediate in four concise steps and 32% overall yield from commercially available starting materials. Additionally, desmethyl montanin A - an analog of montanin A missing its methyl group - can be produced from this key intermediate in one step and 95% yield, for a total of 30% yield over five steps. The dual-key step of this route consists of a Lewis acid-catalyzed Diels-Alder cycloaddition which stereo-selectively forms the spirolactone, followed by a gold-catalysed 6-exo-dig cyclization of the Diels-Alder adduct to complete the decalin core. The complementarity of these two steps is the focus of the synthesis, with the remaining steps for the formation of select neoclerodane natural products consisting of simpler classical chemistry, highlighting the potential for the creation of a large "unnatural" product library for applications such as drug candidate screening. Progress has additionally been made toward teucrin A, setting a cornerstone for future advancements to be made on this project. This concise synthesis advocates for the Barriault group's Diels-Alder/gold cyclization method of forming complex structural cores and will be applied to the total syntheses of other natural products in the future.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(薬科学) / 甲第24557号 / 薬科博第174号 / 新制||薬科||19(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院薬学研究科医薬創成情報科学専攻 / (主査)教授 大野 浩章, 教授 高須 清誠, 教授 大宮 寛久 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Kyoto University / DFAM

Total synthesis of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid NP25302: (+)-NP25302 is an unusual vinylogous urea containing pyrrolizidine alkaloid shown to exhibit cell adhesion inhibition. It was envisaged that this natural product could be accessed by a novel 5-endo-dig cyclisation to construct the pyrrolizidine core, and a Curtius rearrangement to install the vinylogous urea motif. This methodology was first tested on a model system, furnishing nor-NP25302 from L-proline in 12 steps and 9% overall yield. The total synthesis of (±)-NP25302 was completed in 9 steps and 26% overall yield from ethyl 2-nitropropionate using similar methodology. Studies into the stereospecificity of the Au(I)-catalysed cyclisation of monoallylic diols: During the synthesis of (+)-isoaltholactone in the Robertson group, the key Au(I)-catalysed cyclisation was observed to occur with some stereospecificity. Further investigations were therefore conducted into the stereochemical outcome of this reaction using stereodefined allylic alcohols, and from the combined results a mnemonic was proposed to predict the stereochemistry of the products of this reaction. Studies into the total synthesis of ascospiroketals A and B: Investigations were conducted into the total synthesis of the recently isolated natural products ascospiroketals A and B. A second generation synthesis was used to construct advanced intermediates 1 and 2.