In this diploma Thesis I dealt with the synthesis of nitrogen compounds that contain quaternary carbon centres and their structure resembles natural substances, specifically alkaloids from the Amaryllidaceae family. Halocarbocyclization or Heck reaction was planned as a key step of the synthesis, which should lead to the formation of quaternary carbon centres. First, starting nitriles and esters with five- and six-membered rings were prepared. Subsequently, the method for the preparation of a stable bicyclic ketone with a five-membered ring from an ester was optimized. The next part of the Thesis is devoted to the synthesis of a substrate for the Heck reaction from the prepared ketone, which was then used for the preparation of the alkaloid skeleton with a quaternary carbon centre, unfortunately without success so far. In the last part of the work, a bicyclic ketone with a six-membered ring, from which it is possible to prepare a substrate for the Heck reaction in several steps already used for five-membered substances, was prepared from the nitrile by carbopalladation. Key words: synthesis, quaternary carbon centres, Heck reaction, halocarbocyclisation, Amaryllidaceae alkaloids

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Le développement d’une chimie propre et donc durable est un des challenges majeurs du 21ème siècle dans les pays industrialisés. Étant au cœur de nombreuses découvertes dans divers domaines scientifiques allant de la physique à la médecine, les sciences chimiques doivent jouer un rôle central pour résoudre un certain nombre de problèmes environnementaux auxquels nous devons faire face. Mon travail de thèse s’inscrit dans cette problématique par le développement de méthodologies de synthèse faisant intervenir plusieurs transformations dans le même réacteur. Nous avons notamment développé des séquences réactionnelles appelées HRC (pour Heck-Reduction-Cyclization, en anglais) prenant appui sur le caractère multi-tâche d’un catalyseur à base de palladium. Ces travaux nous ont permis de préparer une grande variété d’hétérocyles ou composés fonctionnalisés parmi lesquels nous pouvons citer les oxindoles, les indanones, ou encore les naphthoxindoles. Ces travaux ont donné lieu pour le moment à quatre publications dans des journaux à comité de lecture. / The development of clean chemistry and therefore sustainable is one of the major challenges of the 21st century in industrialized countries. Being in the heart of many discoveries in various scientific fields ranging from physics to medicine, the chemical sciences must play a central role in solving a number of environmental problems we face. My thesis work is part of this problem through the development of synthetic methodologies involving several transformations in the same reactor. We have developed the reaction sequences called HRC (for Heck-Reduction-cyclization) building on the multi-task of a palladium catalyst. This work allowed us to prepare a variety of functionalized heterocycles or compounds from which we can cite the oxindole, the indanones, or the naphthoxindoles. This work has resulted for the time four publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Le projet scientifique a consisté au développement de nouveaux processus domino ayant pour étape clé la fonctionnalisation d’une liaison C-H. L’introduction de cette étape de fonctionnalisation C-H a permis d’améliorer significativement l’efficacité moyenne de la réaction et a offert de nouvelles perspectives du point de vue synthétique. Ainsi, nous avons exploité des stratégies se basant sur des séquences Heck / fonctionnalisation C-H, des réactions de difonctionnalisation d’alcènes en conditions oxydantes et un processus d'aminopalladation / fonctionnalisation C-H. Ces méthodologies nous ont permis un accès rapide aux motifs spiroquinolinones, spirooxindoles, oxindoles disubstitués en position 3, oxindoles tétracycliques et pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles. / The projet consists in developing new domino processes involving C-H functionalization as the key steps. The introduction of C-H functionalization in the domino reaction leads to the enhancing significantly the efficiency of the reaction and offers new perspectives in a synthetic point of view. In this context, we have exploited different strategies basing on Heck/C-H functionalization process, difunctinalization of alkenes reactions through oxidative addition and a sequencial intramolecular aminopalladation/C-H functionalization. These methodologies allow rapid constructions of spiroquinolines, spirooxindoles, 3,3'-disubstituted oxindoles, tetracyclic oxindoles and pyrrolo[1,2-a]indoles cores.

<p>Transition metals have played an important role in synthetic organic chemistry for more than a century, and offer catalytic transformations that would have been impossible with classical chemistry. One of the most useful and versatile of the transition metals is palladium, which over the years has catalyzed many important carbon-carbon forming reactions. Popular cross-coupling reactions such as the Suzuki, Stille and the Heck reaction are all catalyzed by palladium, or more correctly, by palladium in its ground state, Pd(0). </p><p>Recently, interest in palladium(II)-catalyzed transformations has started to grow, partly due to the development of the vinylic substitution reaction, commonly called the oxidative Heck reaction, presented in this thesis. This Pd(II)-catalyzed, ligand-modulated reaction occurs under air at room temperature, and for the first time a general protocol employing a wide range of olefins and arylboronic acids was obtained. Ligand screening showed that the bidentate nitrogen ligand, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen), was the most suitable ligand. Dmphen is believed to facilitate regeneration of active Pd(II), increase catalytic stability and improve the regioselectivity in the reaction. A mechanistic investigation was conducted using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), making it possible to observe cationic intermediates in a productive oxidative Heck arylation. The results obtained are in agreement with the previously proposed catalytic cycle.</p><p>The emerging discipline of high-speed synthesis is making contributions to society’s growing demand for new chemical entities. This inspired the development of two ultrafast, microwave-accelerated carbonylation reactions with dicobalt octacarbonyl acting both as an in situ carbon monoxide supplier and reaction mediator. A wide range of symmetrical benzophenones was produced in only 6 to 10 s, using aryl iodides as the substrate. The second carbonylation reaction provided symmetrical and unsymmetrical ureas in process times ranging from 10 s to 40 minutes using primary and secondary amines.</p>

Transition metals have played an important role in synthetic organic chemistry for more than a century, and offer catalytic transformations that would have been impossible with classical chemistry. One of the most useful and versatile of the transition metals is palladium, which over the years has catalyzed many important carbon-carbon forming reactions. Popular cross-coupling reactions such as the Suzuki, Stille and the Heck reaction are all catalyzed by palladium, or more correctly, by palladium in its ground state, Pd(0). Recently, interest in palladium(II)-catalyzed transformations has started to grow, partly due to the development of the vinylic substitution reaction, commonly called the oxidative Heck reaction, presented in this thesis. This Pd(II)-catalyzed, ligand-modulated reaction occurs under air at room temperature, and for the first time a general protocol employing a wide range of olefins and arylboronic acids was obtained. Ligand screening showed that the bidentate nitrogen ligand, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen), was the most suitable ligand. Dmphen is believed to facilitate regeneration of active Pd(II), increase catalytic stability and improve the regioselectivity in the reaction. A mechanistic investigation was conducted using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), making it possible to observe cationic intermediates in a productive oxidative Heck arylation. The results obtained are in agreement with the previously proposed catalytic cycle. The emerging discipline of high-speed synthesis is making contributions to society’s growing demand for new chemical entities. This inspired the development of two ultrafast, microwave-accelerated carbonylation reactions with dicobalt octacarbonyl acting both as an in situ carbon monoxide supplier and reaction mediator. A wide range of symmetrical benzophenones was produced in only 6 to 10 s, using aryl iodides as the substrate. The second carbonylation reaction provided symmetrical and unsymmetrical ureas in process times ranging from 10 s to 40 minutes using primary and secondary amines.

This thesis is focused on the development of new pincer complex-catalyzed transformations. Optimization of the catalytic properties (fine-tuning) was directed to increase the catalytic activity as well as the chemo-, stereo- and enantioselectivity of the complexes. This was achieved by varying the heteroatoms in the terdentate pincer ligand, by changing the electronic properties of the coordinated aryl moiety and by implementing chiral functionalities in the pincer complexes. In the cross-coupling reaction of vinyl epoxides and aziridines with organoboronic acids the chemoselectivity of the reaction could be increased by employment of pincer complexes instead of commonly used Pd(0) catalysts. Furthermore, the introduction of a methoxy substituent in the aromatic subunit of the complex considerably increased the activity of the pincer complex catalyst. Fine-tuning of the enantioselectivity in electrophilic allylation reactions was achieved by using a wide variety of new BINOL- and biphenanthrol-based pincer complexes. The highest enantioselectivity (85% ee) was obtained by applying biphenanthrol-based pincer complexes. Stereoselective pincer complex-catalyzed condensation of sulfonylimines with isocyanoacetate could be achieved under mild reaction conditions. By application of chiral PCP catalysts, 2-imidazolines could be obtained with up to 86% ee. A new pincer complex-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization based reaction between organonitriles and sulfonylimines affords homoallylic amines and beta-aminonitriles in high yields. The asymmetric version of this process affords beta-aminonitriles with up to 71% ee. In the last chapter, a pincer complex-catalyzed redox coupling reaction is described. In this highly regio- and stereoselective process the integrity of the pincer catalysts is fully retained. This catalytic reaction proceeds with a high level of functional group tolerance, as allylic acetate and aryl halide functionalities are retained.

In today s world, the need to limit the use of nonrenewable resources and the importance of recycling has been recognized. One important contribution of chemists toward the general goal of limiting their use is to find catalysts that can be reused and recycled thereby limiting the need for expensive metal precursors and metal waste. Strategies to recycle catalysts are multifold and range from the employment of soluble polymers as catalyst supports to the use of membrane-encapsulated catalyst. The use of soluble polymers as a support not only offers the advantage of being soluble under the catalytic reaction conditions but also, to be removable by changing the conditions of the surrounding media. Despite the great potential of these soluble supported catalysts, their use is very limited in today s synthesis. In addition, no set of rules have been established to guide the synthesis of efficient supported catalysts. In order to establish a tool box for the synthesis of supported catalysts, the study of several parameters such as the choice of the support and the choice and the stability of the catalyst are necessary. To establish this set of rules, a limited number of catalytic transformations, were studied. These catalytic reactions are the Heck-Mizoroki, Suzuki-Miyaura and Sonogashira coupling reactions. These transformations became fundamental for the synthesis of drugs and materials. The first and second chapters provide background information by describing and evaluating the main supports that were previously used for catalysts and the two main catalysts that are used in this thesis, the palladium pincer complex and the palladium N-heterocyclic complex. In chapter 3, the synthesis of a soluble polymer supported catalyst is described. The polymer chosen for the study is poly(norbornene), and the catalyst is a 1,3-disubstituted benzene ligand with sulfurs in the side-chains able to chelate to the metal center, better known as pincer ligand. These ligands are abbreviated by the three atoms that coordinate to the metal center, in this study, SCS. The metal used for the investigation of the activity of this supported pincer is palladium. The importance of the nature of the linkage on the stability of the Pd-SCS pincer complex has been reported in the literature, leading to the synthesis of Pd-SCS pincer complex tethered to the polymer via an ether and an amide linkage. The synthesized poly(norbornene) supported Pd-SCS pincer complexes were evaluated using the Heck transformation of iodobenzene with n-butyl acrylate. Kinetic studies and leaching tests using poly(vinyl pyridine) and mercury were carried out resulting in the conclusion that the active species during the catalysis is not the palladium pincer complex but a leached palladium (0) species. In chapter 4, Pd-PCP pincer complexes with the ether and amide tether were synthesized. Kinetic and poisoning studies were carried out resulting in a similar conclusion. Furthermore, 31P NMR experiments were conducted to investigate the unstability of the complex. Following this study, in-situ XAS as well as computational calculations were carried out. The conclusion from this sinvestigation argues that triethylamine is a key ingredient for the decomposition of the Pd-PCP complex. The overall conclusion from these two different studies is thta Pd(II) pincer complexes decomposes during the Heck reaction when triethylamine is used for the coupling of iodobenzene to n-butyl acrylate in DMF at 120 ºC. Stemming from this investigation, a reported more stable complex, Pd-NHC, was tethered onto poly(norbornene). The system was evaluated using Suzuki-Miyaura, Heck and Sonogashira reactions. Similar poisoning and kinetic studies were utilized to investigate the stability of the supported NHC Pd complexes. The result of this investigation suggests that supported Pd-NHC complexes are stable under Suzuki-Miyaura and Sonogashira but decompose under Heck conditions. However, when the system was recycled, a decrease in activity for the Suzuki-Miyaura transformation and solubility was observed. In chapter 6, gold monolayer protected clusters (MPC) were investigated as potential candidates as supports. To examine the potential of MPC as a support, a NHC-Pd complex was graphted onto the particles. To functionalize the gold nanoparticles, a new method was developed. Using azide moieties added to the gold nanoparticles, the catalyst was added via microwave assisted 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition. The system was evaluated using Suzuki-Miyaura transformations under microwave conditions. The system exhibited quantitative conversions for a variety of substrates. However, when the system was recycled, aggregation of the particles and decrease in catalytic activity was observed. In summary, this thesis describes the synthesis and evaluation of poly(norbornene) supported Pd-pincer and Pd-NHC complexes and of gold nanoparticles supported Pd-NHC complex. It also detail the combination of kinetic and poisoning studies developed to evaluate a potential supported catalyst.

No description available.

The use of small molecule building blocks in, for example, pharmaceutical research and new material development, creates a need for new and improved organic synthesis methods. The use of transition metals as mediators and catalysts opens up new reaction pathways that have made the synthesis of completely new compounds possible as well as greatly improved the synthetic routes to known compounds. Herein, the development of new metal-mediated and catalyzed reactions for construction of vinylic and allylic carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds is described.  The use of iodonium salts as coupling partners in Pd-catalyzed Heck type reactions with alkenes is shown to improve the current substrate scope. Results from a mechanistic study indicate that the reaction proceeds via high oxidation state palladium intermediates. The use of IIII reagents is also believed to facilitate a PdII/PdIV catalytic cycle in allylic silylation of alkenes using (SiMe3)2, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first method developed for metal-catalyzed allylic C-H silylation. The same silyl-source, (SiMe3)2, has previously been used in a Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution reaction in which allylic silanes are formed from allylic alcohols. A detailed mechanistic investigation of this reaction is described in which by-products as well as intermediates, including the resting state of the catalyst, are identified using 1H, 11B, 19F and 29Si NMR spectroscopy. Kinetic experiments are performed that give information about the turn-over limiting step and the mechanism of the analogous borylation using B2pin2 is also investigated. Insights from this study further made it possible to improve the stereoselectivity of this reaction. Additionally, a new method for Cu-mediated trifluoromethylation of allylic halides is presented in which linear products are formed exclusively from both linear and branched allylic substrates at room temperature.  Identification of allylic fluorides as by-products during the reaction also led to the development of a similar Cu-mediated reaction for the fluorination of allylic halides. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>