Thesis advisor: Shih-Yuan Liu / The first three chapters of this dissertation elaborate on certain facets of the isosteric relationship between different types of boron-nitrogen-containing heterocycles and the corresponding all-carbon compounds. In this vein, Chapter 1 describes selective photoisomerization of aromatic 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborines to BN-analogues of bicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene (Dewar benzene). In one instance, the photoisomer product was further derivatized into a series of disubstituted cyclobutanes through manipulations of the boron functionality. Chapter 2 discloses a combined experimental/theoretical mechanistic investigation of preliminary hydrogen release from the amine borane unit in a pair of BN-cycloalkanes. In Chapter 3, the kinetics of complementary dehydrogenation of the alkyl units in a BN-cyclohexene derivative are compared with those of related six-membered carbocycles. Chapter 4 treats with the separate subject of enantioselective silylation of glycerol by a catalytic strategy centered around reversible covalent binding of substrate hydroxyl groups. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

The following thesis outlines work carried out during the past three years for the discovery and investigation of catalytic methodologies towards the synthesis and modification of heterocycles, namely cyclic carbamates, carbonates and their sulfur analogues. Chapter 1 summarises the current catalytic methods reported in the literature towards the synthesis and modification of functionalized 2-oxazolidinones. This introduction highlights the diverse range of methods and catalysts that have been developed and their scope and limitations. In addition the review highlights the importance of these structural motifs and suggests areas in which the following research fulfills unmet needs. Chapter 2 reports the discovery and development of a one-pot two-step copper-catalysed methodology towards the synthesis of N-aryl oxazolidinones from amino alcohol carbamates. The scope of both the N-aryl substituent as well as oxazolidinone functionalization is presented in addition to preliminary investigations into the mechanisms of both reactions. Chapter 3 presents the application of the previously reported one-pot process towards the synthesis of a number of medicinally active molecules and blockbuster pharmaceuticals. The one-pot two-step copper-catalysed reaction was utilized to synthesise a common intermediate in the synthesis of a number of oxazolidinone-based pharmaceuticals. The complete syntheses of Toloxatone, Linezolid, Tedizolid and Rivaroxaban are reported. Chapter 4 reports the modification of N-aryl oxazolidinones towards a diverse library of N-aryl oxazolidinethiones. The reactivity of these structures, in addition to N-alkyl oxazolidinethiones, towards transition metal catalysis was investigated and revealed a ruthenium catalysed O- to S-alkyl migration to afford structurally diverse thiazolidinones. Investigations into the substrate scope and mechanism were also carried out, suggesting a pseudo-reversible radical pathway drawing mechanistic parallels to the classic Barton-McCombie reaction. Chapter 5 details further development of the pseudo-reversible radical pathway for the regioselective rearrangement of dioxolane-2-thiones using Pd(PPh3)4 as a catalyst. The scope of the reaction is reported for the formation of highly selective, highly substituted sulfur-rearrangement products.

The development of new, improved methods for forming carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bonds is the basic goal in synthetic organic chemistry. In the Lautens group, many recent advances have been made using late transition metals such as rhodium and palladium. One such research project involves the synthesis of indoles through tandem C–N and C–C coupling reactions using gem-dibromoolefin starting materials, and this area serves as a starting point for the research described. Chapter 1 describes a method by which the tandem use of gem-dibromoolefins can be halted to give intramolecular monocoupling reactions, maintaining one of the carbon–bromine bonds which can serve as a useful handle for further functionalization. The use of copper as a catalyst is key to this reaction, as it features a unique mechanism for carbon–heteroatom bond formation. Benzofurans and benzothiophenes can be prepared by this method. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of 2-bromoindoles using an intramolecular Buchwald–Hartwig amination of gem-dibromoolefins. It is found that the products are more reactive towards palladium(0) than the starting material, and the use of a bulky phosphine ligand which facilitates reversible oxidative addition is required. This represents one of the first catalytic applications of this step in synthesis. Chapter 3 further explores the concept of reversible oxidative addition in a novel carbohalogenation reaction of alkenes. Aryl iodides tethered to alkenes are treated with a palladium(0) catalysts, which can undergo the basic steps of oxidative addition, carbopalladation, and novel sp2 carbon–iodine reductive elimination. This process is remarkably simple in concept, and is a waste-free, atom economically method for preparing new carbon–carbon bonds. Chapter 4 discusses various limitations to the carbohalogenation methodology, and seeks to overcome these problems. The use of aryl bromide starting materials can be accomplished by adding an iodide source to the reaction, allowing halide exchange of palladium(II) intermediates to occur. Intermolecular and asymmetric variants are also explored. Computational studies are discussed which reveal useful mechanistic details of the catalytic cycle, and this information is used in the development of novel phosphine ligands.

This work can be separated into two parts; the first will encompass chapters one and two, which discuss the use of the Catellani reaction to access different heterocycles. The second part will encompass the remaining chapters and deals with stereoselective reactions of arynes. Chapter one outlines the development of a general and high yielding synthesis of the phenanthridine nucleus via a palladium-catalyzed domino reaction of aryl iodides with N-H or N-trimethylsilyl imines. This strategy was applied in a succinct synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids nitidine and NK109. Chapter two details the development of a Catellani-type reaction of aryl iodides with 2H-azirines. Conditions were found to selectively provide access to either the indole nucleus or unusual dihydroimidazoles. The yields of the products ranged from moderate to good, however, the success of the reaction is highly dependent on the structure of the 2H-azirine. A mechanism was proposed involving oxidative addition of the azirine to generate an azaalyl intermediate. In Chapter three the foray into the area of aryne chemistry begins. A stereoselective nickel- catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-enynes with aryne intermediates was developed. Attempts were made at the development of an asymmetric variant of the reaction, however, only low enantiomeric excess was observed. Good diastereoselectivity could be obtained when an allylic substituent was present. The yields of the products ranged from moderate to excellent. However, the yields vary greatly and in a number of cases the reactions were unsuccessful. Finally, in chapter four the development of a general and high yielding annulation strategy for the synthesis of various carbo- and heterocycles, based on an intramolecular aryne ene reaction is described. It was found that the geometry of the olefin is crucial to the success of the reaction and it that regioselective hydrogen migration occurs. Furthermore, the electronic nature of the aryne was found to be important to the success of the reaction. Deuterium labeling studies and DFT calculations provided insight into the reaction mechanism. The data suggested a concerted asynchronous transition state, resembling a nucleophilic attack on the aryne. This strategy was successfully applied to the formal synthesis of the ethanophenanthridine alkaloid (±)-crinine. In a similar vein, preliminary results demonstrating an intramolecular, formal [2+2] cycloaddition of an aryne with an S, O-ketene acetal to give interesting tricyclic benzocyclobutene products are disclosed.

Contamination of seafood by marine toxins has been a consistent public health problem. Gymnodimine (GYM) is a member of a family of spirocyclic imine containing marine natural products which was shown to be highly toxic (LD50 96 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection); thus ensuring public safety requires stringent monitoring of gymnodimine. Current detection methods for GYM and spirolides include the mouse bioassay and LC-MS-based detection techniques which, however, have significant limitations. Therefore, more efficient and convenient detection methods are required. Building on our recently completed total synthesis of (-)-gymnodimine, the synthesis of two haptens were targeted for eventual production of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to be used in an eventual Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for gymnodimine. As an extension of the intramolecular nucleophilic catalyzed aldol lactonization (NCAL) process from aldehyde acid to keto acid substrates, carbocyclic and nitrogen heterocyclic B-lactones were synthesized. Demonstration of the utility of the NCAL process for keto acids was applied to the synthesis of dihydroplakevulin A and the core of tussilagine. In addition, although initial attempts to develop guanidine catalysts for the asymmetric NCAL process were unsuccessful, homobenzotetramisole (HBTM) was found to be a suitable asymmetric catalyst for keto acid substrates. Finally, synthetic studies toward the proposed structure of thiolyngbyan are described. Thiolyngbyan was isolated from a blue-green algae and it exhibited antifungal activity.

This work can be separated into two parts; the first will encompass chapters one and two, which discuss the use of the Catellani reaction to access different heterocycles. The second part will encompass the remaining chapters and deals with stereoselective reactions of arynes. Chapter one outlines the development of a general and high yielding synthesis of the phenanthridine nucleus via a palladium-catalyzed domino reaction of aryl iodides with N-H or N-trimethylsilyl imines. This strategy was applied in a succinct synthesis of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids nitidine and NK109. Chapter two details the development of a Catellani-type reaction of aryl iodides with 2H-azirines. Conditions were found to selectively provide access to either the indole nucleus or unusual dihydroimidazoles. The yields of the products ranged from moderate to good, however, the success of the reaction is highly dependent on the structure of the 2H-azirine. A mechanism was proposed involving oxidative addition of the azirine to generate an azaalyl intermediate. In Chapter three the foray into the area of aryne chemistry begins. A stereoselective nickel- catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-enynes with aryne intermediates was developed. Attempts were made at the development of an asymmetric variant of the reaction, however, only low enantiomeric excess was observed. Good diastereoselectivity could be obtained when an allylic substituent was present. The yields of the products ranged from moderate to excellent. However, the yields vary greatly and in a number of cases the reactions were unsuccessful. Finally, in chapter four the development of a general and high yielding annulation strategy for the synthesis of various carbo- and heterocycles, based on an intramolecular aryne ene reaction is described. It was found that the geometry of the olefin is crucial to the success of the reaction and it that regioselective hydrogen migration occurs. Furthermore, the electronic nature of the aryne was found to be important to the success of the reaction. Deuterium labeling studies and DFT calculations provided insight into the reaction mechanism. The data suggested a concerted asynchronous transition state, resembling a nucleophilic attack on the aryne. This strategy was successfully applied to the formal synthesis of the ethanophenanthridine alkaloid (±)-crinine. In a similar vein, preliminary results demonstrating an intramolecular, formal [2+2] cycloaddition of an aryne with an S, O-ketene acetal to give interesting tricyclic benzocyclobutene products are disclosed.

The development of new, improved methods for forming carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bonds is the basic goal in synthetic organic chemistry. In the Lautens group, many recent advances have been made using late transition metals such as rhodium and palladium. One such research project involves the synthesis of indoles through tandem C–N and C–C coupling reactions using gem-dibromoolefin starting materials, and this area serves as a starting point for the research described. Chapter 1 describes a method by which the tandem use of gem-dibromoolefins can be halted to give intramolecular monocoupling reactions, maintaining one of the carbon–bromine bonds which can serve as a useful handle for further functionalization. The use of copper as a catalyst is key to this reaction, as it features a unique mechanism for carbon–heteroatom bond formation. Benzofurans and benzothiophenes can be prepared by this method. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of 2-bromoindoles using an intramolecular Buchwald–Hartwig amination of gem-dibromoolefins. It is found that the products are more reactive towards palladium(0) than the starting material, and the use of a bulky phosphine ligand which facilitates reversible oxidative addition is required. This represents one of the first catalytic applications of this step in synthesis. Chapter 3 further explores the concept of reversible oxidative addition in a novel carbohalogenation reaction of alkenes. Aryl iodides tethered to alkenes are treated with a palladium(0) catalysts, which can undergo the basic steps of oxidative addition, carbopalladation, and novel sp2 carbon–iodine reductive elimination. This process is remarkably simple in concept, and is a waste-free, atom economically method for preparing new carbon–carbon bonds. Chapter 4 discusses various limitations to the carbohalogenation methodology, and seeks to overcome these problems. The use of aryl bromide starting materials can be accomplished by adding an iodide source to the reaction, allowing halide exchange of palladium(II) intermediates to occur. Intermolecular and asymmetric variants are also explored. Computational studies are discussed which reveal useful mechanistic details of the catalytic cycle, and this information is used in the development of novel phosphine ligands.

The reactivity of perfluoroarenes and hetarenes towards SNAr reactions was studied as part of a synthetic programme to form an assembly of novel heterocyclic aromatic compounds for material and pharmaceutical applications. In chapter 1 the chemistry of perfluoroarenes is reviewed together with the use of conjugated compounds in organo-electronic applications. In chapter 2 the successful replacement of the remaining fluorine atoms in 6,12-difluorobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']bis[b]benzothiophene through SNAr reaction with long chain alkoxy and alkylthio nucleophiles is reported. An X-ray crystallographic investigation into their solid state packing was undertaken which would provide useful information for organoelectronic applications. Reactions with nitrogen and carbon based nucleophiles were also studied but met with little success. In chapter 3, alternative methods for the reductive cyclization of aryl and 2-bromoaryl perfluoroethers and sulfides to replace the currently used lithium-bromine exchange were explored, namely the use of radical cyclizations, palladium, magnesium, copper and Rieke metals. Some success was found using magnesium as a reagent although yields were low. Attempts to effect cyclisation reactions by ortho-lithiation and Ullmann coupling reaction with fluoroarenes is also reported. In chapter 4 attempts to generate alternative ring fusion in annulation reactions to form fused benzothiophenes by a dianion strategy are described. Development of methods to synthesise helicene or curved polycyclic structures from dibenzothiophene precursors is reported. In chapter 5 the synthesis of nitrogen containing fluorinated compounds with potential bioactivity is described. A series of novel amino substituted fluoroaromatics were successfully synthesised by adding different nitrogen based nucleophiles to pentafluoropyridine. Smiles rearrangement of a tetrafluoropyridyl sulphonamide was found to occur. A number of fluoropyridyl aniline derivatives were successfully synthesised some of which were submitted for biological screening. Substitution reactions of bis-nucleophiles bearing two heteroatom groups to form fused six membered rings were also studied. A Smiles rearrangement was identified in the reaction with an aminobenzenethiolate and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Experimental procedures are given in chapter 6 as well as characterisation and crystallographic data of molecules synthesised during the research.

A field in bloom: photoredox catalysis has allowed chemists access to highly reactive intermediates via the photo-mediated excitation of transition metal complexes and organic dyes for the mild generation of free radicals. These complexes and dyes are designed based on Nature’s blueprints of light-harvesting biomolecules that transform solar energy (photons) into chemical energy during photosynthesis. Light-mediated chemical activation is regarded as one of the most sustainable forms of chemical activation being that the energy provided by the sun is considered renewable and largely underutilized and presents an attractive avenue for research and development of new transformations that are mild, efficient, and waste-limiting in organic synthesis. Radical chemistry and photochemistry are united in their inherent ability to undergo single (or photoinduced) electron transfers by one-electron reaction modes. Combining these unique fields, photoredox catalysis has emerged as a mild and efficient alternative to classic alkyl radical generation using hazardous initiators and organostannanes. Photoredox catalysis has been dominated by ruthenium- and iridium-based polypyridyl complexes. These complexes are limited by their inherent redox potentials, restricting their reactivity towards relatively activated bonds. Nonactivated bromoalkanes and arenes are considered challenging substrates to engage using redox chemistry and typically only accessible in the realm of organostannane chemistry. Described herein are the efforts towards the discovery of free radical based organic transformations derived from nonactivated bromoalkanes and arenes mediated by photochemical excitation of polynuclear gold(I) complexes as photoredox catalysts. This work represents some of the first uses of a photoredox catalyst in the reduction of substrates having such high reduction potentials and offers a practical and useful alternative to classic radical reactions mediated by initiators (peroxides, persulfates, and azo compounds) and toxic organostannanes (Bu3SnH). Using gold based photoredox catalysts, the research conducted has provided many methodological advancements for the mild and efficient formation of carbon-carbon bonds using nonactivated bromoalkanes and a large collection of radical acceptors. Establishing the use of these photoexcited polynuclear gold(I) complexes in the context of classic radical reactions in organic synthesis was important for their validation as useful photocatalysts. First, the Ueno-Stork cyclization of nonactivated bromoalkanes was used to demonstrate the powerful reducing capabilities of the excited-state gold(I) complexes. Next, a photo-mediated variant of the Appel reaction was described, where the transformation of an alcohol to a bromoalkane was achieved using carbontetrabromide and N,N-dimethylformamide through the intermediacy of a Vilsmeier-Haack reagent. In combination with the hydrodebromination chemistry developed with photoexcited polynuclear gold(I) complexes, a photo-mediated one-pot formal deoxygenation reaction of alcohols was described; a useful alternative to the organostannane mediated Barton-McCombie deoxygenation reaction. Finally, in the field of medicinal chemistry, the functionalization of heteroarenes is of high interest for the discovery of drug candidates and bioactive molecules. In this respect, one of the most useful reactions for the functionalization of heteroarenes by alkyl radicals is the Minisci reaction using silver salts, carboxylic acids, and persulfates. Detailed are the efforts for the development of a photo-mediated redox-neutral improvement of the Minisci reaction, needing only gold(I) photocatalyst and nonactivated bromoalkane in the presence of heteroarenes. Overall, the work described in this thesis represents the push for mild and efficient alternatives to the relatively harsh conditions and/or toxic reagents and byproducts associated with classic radical chemistry. These studies demonstrate the ability to control highly reactive alkyl radical intermediates with the goal of their broader application in synthetic organic chemistry. The use of photoexcited polynuclear gold(I) complexes as potent reductants compared to ruthenium- and iridium-based polypyridyl complexes is illustrated through the genesis of highly reactive alkyl radicals from nonactivated bromoalkanes.

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