The central focus of this dissertation pertains to the synthesis and study of novel N-Heterocyclic carbene architectures. This pursuit has led to advances in carbine structure and bonding, and application of NHCs in materials chemistry in the role of monomer and catalyst / text

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Science

Not available / text

A unifying theme of the chemistry presented is the synthesis, study, and application of a novel N-heterocyclic carbenes. Pursuit of these materials has resulted in new advances in carbene structure and bonding, the discovery of highly-efficient reactions, and the development of new polymers with unusual properties. / text

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The synthesis of 1-methyl-promazine, 4-hydroxymethyl-iminodibenzyl, and 4-bromo-5-trimethylsilyl-iminodibenzyl via dilithiation and ¹H-NMR's are described. Molecular modeling was done for the latter compound. The heat of dissociation was 30.6 kcal/mole for the lowest energy conformer. Rotational energies were examined for three bonds. The IC₅₀ values for inhibition of neurotransmitter uptake by rat brain synaptosomes were determined for a series of 1-substituted promazines, and 4-substituted imipramines. 1-Substituted promazines were fair inhibitors of serotonin uptake with an average IC₅₀ of 2000 nm. Their potency for inhibiting norepinephrine uptake was difficult to assess due to poor assay reproducibility, and the average IC₅₀ was estimated at 200 to 1700 nm. Serotonin, but not norepinephrine, uptake inhibition was increased with additional ring substitution at C(2) with a trifluoromethyl group. The 4-substituted imipramines were equal or slightly decreased in potency to unsubstituted imipramine for uptake inhibition of both neurotransmitters. IC₅₀'s were also reported for imipramine and desipramine.

A summary of tin hydride mediated reactions in generating radicals in organic synthesis is presented, together with some of the many alternative methods now available for conducting radical reactions. Particular attention has been given to the iminyl radical and the development of tin-free organic radical precursors. This introduction is followed by three chapters describing research on the development of two new sources of iminyl radicals and their application in syntheses of aza- heterocyles. O-Phenyl oxime ethers are the first iminyl radical precursors described in the thesis. Microwave thermolyses of oxime ethers released iminyl and phenoxyl radicals under comparatively mild conditions and with short reaction times. Few microwave-assisted synthetic methods, based around radical intermediates, are known. The mild and neutral conditions associated with radical chemistry, and the ability of radicals to perform intramolecular cyclisations, together with the virtues of MAOS, make their combination a very useful tool in syntheses of aza-heterocycles. A comprehensive study of intramolecular additions of iminyl radicals onto several radical acceptors, alkenes, alkynes, phenyl rings and indoles, is described. Furthermore, a wide range of nitrogen heterocyles with potential biological activity was prepared making use of this methodology. Intramolecular iminyl radical cyclisation onto imines via microwave irradiation was another process extensively studied. Microwave assisted syntheses of dihydroquinazolines and quinazolines are described. The precursor O-phenyl oxime ethers enable imine formation to be assimilated with iminyl radical generation before subsequent cyclisation. Clean, fast and high yielding methodology was therefore developed for the syntheses of these highly interesting heterocycles which form the basis of many pharmaceutical products. Dioxime oxalates were the second type of precursor investigated as sources of iminyl radicals. Homolytic cleavage of their N-O oxime bonds occurred on photolysis releasing two molecules of CO₂ and two iminyl radicals in a clean and atom-efficient process. A facile route to dioxime oxalates with a range of radical acceptors in suitable positions is described. ESR spectroscopy was used to demonstrate that dioxime oxalates dissociate on photolysis to give iminyl radicals in the presence of photosensitizer. This technique also confirmed the proposed mechanisms of radical cyclisation onto double bonds and several 2-azacyclopentylmethyl radicals were characterized by ESR spectroscopy. In several instances both the uncyclized iminyl radical, and the cyclised C-radical, could be simultaneously detected, and their concentrations determined. ESR spectroscopy was then profitably used to determine 5-exo-cyclization rate constants of iminyl radicals onto double bonds. Finally, the syntheses of several heterocycles from dioxime oxalates are described. Photolytic dissociation of dioxime oxalates containing alkenyl groups yielded iminyl radicals that ring closed to 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrroles in toluene solution. The syntheses of phenanthridines, and the natural product trisphaeridine, were also accomplished by UV irradiation of dioxime oxalates containing aromatic rings as the radical acceptor.

No description available.

Classical methodologies for carbon-carbon bond formation often require stoichiometric amount of reagent to prefunctionalize a C-H bond. Such methods generate a lot of waste and are therefore not atom-efficient. On the other hand, the use of catalysts for the direct use of C-H bond without prior functionalization is a more desirable approach for carbon-carbon formation. For example, an overall addition reaction is 100% atom economical. This thesis focuses on the catalytic addition of the three types of C-H bonds (Csp-H, Csp2-H and Csp3-H) to unsaturated molecules such as conjugated dienes, imines and carbon dioxide to form heterocycles. / The first chapter describes the direct single addition of 1,3-diketones (Csp3- H bond) to conjugated dienes and enol ethers catalyzed by gold(III) chloride and silver(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate. The reaction is highly regioselective, although the overall yields are modest (up to 70%) due to the oxidative nature of the catalysts. Under certain conditions, the addition product undergoes a subsequent cyclization to form dihydrofurans. This tandem addition/cyclization reaction is catalyzed by trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and is discussed in the second part of the chapter. / The second chapter deals with the addition of phenol derivatives (C sp2-H bond) to conjugated dienes catalyzed by gold(III) chloride and silver(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate. The reaction affords dihydrobenzofurans via an intramolecular O-H cyclization. Investigation into the sequence of the reaction shows that the C-C bond is formed before the C-O bond. / The third chapter presents the addition of terminal alkynes (Csp-H bond) to imines catalyzed by cheap copper(I) iodide salt via a three-component coupling of salicylaldehyde derivatives, secondary amines and alkynes. Microwave irradiation is used which considerably shortens the reaction time and eliminate the use of solvents. Dihydrobenzofurans with an exocylic double bond are formed via an intramolecular O-H cyclization. The use of aliphatic alkynes molecules containing a heteroatom is critical to the success of the reaction. / Finally, in the last chapter, the addition of terminal alkynes (C sp-H bond) to carbon dioxide (catalyzed by gold(I) chlorotriphenylphosphine and silver trifluoromethanesulfonate) is applied to the synthesis of arynaphthalene lactones via a multicomponent coupling of phenylacetylene, CO2 and 3-bromo-1-phenyl-1-propyne.

A general route to 1-chloro-1,2,4,6-selenatriazines with substuents on 3,5 positions has been developed by the reactions of N-imidoylamidines with selenium tetrachloride. The mechanism for these reactions is discussed according to the observed intermediates. At least two intermediates exist. One of the intermediates, 1,1-dichloro-3-trichloromethyl-4H-5-diisopropylphenyl-1,2,4,6-selenatriazine, was identified by 1HNMR, Mass spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. 1-Chloro-1,2,4,6-selenatriazines were synthesized in high yield and fully characterized. Five 1-chloro-1,2,4,6-selenatriazine crystal structures were obtained. Reduction of 1-chloro-1,2,4,6-selenatriazines with triphenylamtimony immediately produced the corresponding selenatriazinyl radicals in hot acetonitrile. Pure radicals were obtained by in-situ crystallization as their dimers from reaction. Two crystal structures were obtained for 3-trifluoromethyl-5-p-tolyl-1,2,4,6-selenatriazinyl dimer and 3-trifluoromethyl-5-p-methyloxyphenyl-1,2,4,6-selenatriazinyl dimer. EPR spectroscopy measured all radicals coupling to three unique nitrogen atoms with 7 broad lines. There is no resolvable hyperfine coupling to 77Se, 37Cl/19F and phenyl protons. / xv, 172 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.