Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Graft and block copolymers were synthesized using multifunctional and monofunctional macroinitiators to produce the copolymers. The process involved hydroboration of commercially available unsaturated rubbers and chain-end unsaturated macromonomers with 9-borabicyclo [3.3.1] nonane (9-BBN). The resulting secondary alkyl 9-BBN moieties in the starting materials were subsequently exposed to oxygen in the presence of free radical polymerizable monomers to facilitate the formation of graft and block copolymers. This research was initiated by first studying the hydroboration of a model compound, 2-hexene, in order to determine the optimal conditions for the graft reactions. The model compound was subsequently used as a macroinitiator to initiate the polymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA). The same borane chemistry was extended to the synthesis of polystyrene (PS) block copolymers. Chain-end unsaturated PS macromonomers, synthesized by anionic polymerization, were effectively hydroborated and then polymerized to produce PS-b-PMMA block copolymers. The synthesis of polyolefin graft copolymers was subsequently achieved by hydroboration. Several commercial rubbers with different levels of unsaturated segments were efficiently grafted with vinyl monomers MMA and styrene (St) following the “graft from” approach. The grafted reactions were carried out under various reaction conditions to determine the effect of the following factors: concentration of oxygen, amount of borane and monomer concentration. By controlling these factors, different graft densities were achieved with high graft efficiencies. All reactions produced mixed products including unreacted (non-functional) macroinitiator, homopolymer, graft copolymer and in case of the highly unsaturated polymer a crosslinked gel. Finally, the chemical compositions as well as the molar mass distribution of the graft copolymers were fully characterized by different chromatographic techniques. 1H-NMR and FTIR were also used to confirm the structure of these copolymers. Gradient HPLC was developed and extensively used to characterize the graft copolymers.

The pyrrolidine and piperidine ring systems are present in a variety of different classes of amphibian alkaloids. We have found the iridium catalyzed N-heterocylization reaction of diols with amines to be very useful for the construction of novel pyrrolidine, piperidine and piperazine derivatives. The scope and utility of the iridium catalyzed N-heterocyclization reaction for the construction of novel anuran scaffolds using amino diols and triols are presented. Studies directed towards the total synthesis of 4,6-disubstituted quinolizidine and (±)-epiquinamide are discussed. The second study is focused on the selective conversion of terminal dienes to primary diols. This conversion has always had problems with regioselectivity and low yields due to polymer formation with carbon chains having more than 7 carbon atoms. An improvement in the yield and regioselectivity was observed with disiamylborane prepared in situ using 2-methyl-2-butene and BH3•DMS. The scope of this method with 7, 8 and 9 carbon chains and different alcohol protecting groups for synthesis of triols is presented.

Thesis advisor: Amir H. Hoveyda / Chapter 1. In this chapter, the ability of chiral bidentate N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) to activate alkylmetal reagents directly in order to promote C&#8210;C bond forming reactions in the absence of a Cu salt is presented. Highly regio- and enantioselective Cu-free allylic alkylation reactions of di- and trisubstituted allylic substrates with organomagnesium, organozinc, and organoaluminum reagents are demonstrated. Chiral bidentate sulfonate-bearing NHC-Zn and NHC-Al complexes are isolated and fully characterized. Based on crystal structures of these catalytic complexes, mechanistic details regarding Cu-free allylic alkylations with alkylmetal reagents are proposed. Chapter 2. New methods for efficient and highly enantioselective Cu-catalyzed allylic alkylation reactions of a variety of trisubstituted allylic substrates with alkylmagnesium and alkyl-, aryl-, 2-furyl-, and 2-thiophenylaluminum reagents are presented. Transformations are promoted by a chiral NHC complex in the presence of commercially available, inexpensive and air stable CuCl2*H2O. Enantiomerically enriched compounds containing difficult-to-access all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers are obtained. Chapter 3. New methods for highly site- and enantioselective Cu-catalyzed allylic alkylation reactions of allylic phosphates with vinylaluminum reagents are presented. The requisite vinylaluminums are prepared by reaction of readily accessible terminal alkynes with DIBAL-H and used directly without further purification. Vinyl additions are promoted in the presence of a chiral bidentate sulfonate-based NHC complex and a Cu salt. The desired SN2' products are obtained in >98% E selectivities, >98% SN2' selectivities, >98% group selectivities (<2% i-Bu addition) and high enantioselectivities. The enantioselective total synthesis of the natural product bakuchiol highlights the versatility of the one-pot hydroalumination/Cu-catalyzed enantioselective allylic vinylation process. Chapter 4. Efficient and highly site-selective Cu-catalyzed hydroboration reactions of 1,2-disubstituted aryl olefins with bis(pinacolato)diboron (B2(pin)2) are presented. Transformations are promoted by an NHC-Cu complex in the presence of MeOH, affording only secondary &#946;-boronate isomers. A Cu-catalyzed method for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched secondary alkylboronates promoted by chiral NHC complexes is disclosed. Chapter 5. A new method for efficient and site-selective tandem Cu-catalyzed copper-boron additions to terminal alkynes with B2(pin)2 in the presence of an NHC-Cu complex is demonstrated. In a one-pot process, Cu-catalyzed hydroboration of alkynes provides vinylboronates in situ, which undergo a second site-selective hydroboration to afford vicinal diboronates. Highly Enantiomerically enriched diboronates obtained through Cu-catalyzed enantioselective dihydroboration in the presence of chiral bidentate sulfonate-based NHC-Cu complex are obtained. The control of site selectivity in the first-stage hydroboration of alkynes is critical for efficient and highly enantioselective reactions in the tandem dihydroboration. Functionalizations of the vicinal diboronates described herein underline the significance of the current method. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Ce travail concerne la fonctionnalisation des esters méthyliques d'acides gras (EMAG) dans le but de valoriser les ressources halieutiques marocaines, en particulier les huiles de poisson dont ils sont les principaux constituants. Pour cela, des réactions d'hydroboration, d'hydrosilylation, d'hydrogermylation et de phosphorylation ont été réalisées dans les premier, deuxième et troisième chapitres et ont permis d'accéder à une grande variété de composés présentant des motifs EMAG diversement substitués. Dans les deux derniers chapitres, nous avons développé des applications de ces dérivés. Ainsi, des polyesters et des copolymères renfermant un élément du groupe 14 et un motif de type EMAG ont été préparés et caractérisés. Parallèlement, la décomposition thermique en solution d'aminogermylènes nous a permis d'accéder à des nanoparticules de germanium.

Ce travail présente une voie de synthèse courte d'androst-5-ènes modifiés au niveau de la position 11, peu réactive. Elle consiste premièrement en une addition de dérivés organométalliques (lithiens, magnésiens) à la cétone encombrée et énolisable libre de l'adrénostérone commerciale protégée. Cette addition se produit de préférence dans un solvant apolaire et ce résultat a été étendu à d'autres cétones encombrées et énolisables. Deuxièmement, des alcools tertiaires encombrés, découlant de cette première étape, ont été déoxygénés par voie radicalaire. Cette méthode ouvre la voie, pour la première fois et avec des rendements raisonnables, à des 11a et 11b-allyl-testostérones notamment. Cette séquence addition/déoxygénation est applicable au cas de dérivés aryles, alkyles, allyles et éthynyles. Finalement, la 11b-hydroxyméthyl-testostérone a été préparée par hydroboration-oxydation d'un dérivé 11-méthylidèn-androst-5-ène. Ce précurseur a été obtenu avec un excellent rendement par la réaction de Peterson. La voie de synthèse choisie a été ainsi menée à terme avec la préparation d'une première série de testostérones modifiées en 11 utilisables pour l'étude de leurs relations structure/activité. Ce travail a aussi été étendu à la chimie bioorganométallique.

The hydroboration of simple alkenes with BH3 preferentially occurs in an anti- Markovnikov fashion. The standard explanation for this preference, reproduced in all general organic chemistry textbooks, is that the selectivity arises from a greater stability for the anti-Markovnikov transition state. This explanation presupposes the applicability of the transition-state theory model for reactivity and selectivity. This dissertation explores the applicability of transition state theory to selectivity in hydroborations and finds that in some cases transition state theory fails to accurately account for observations. Experimental results for the hydroboration of propene-d6 and styrene-d8 with excess BH3 was analyzed by 2H-NMR to determine the percentage of the Markovnikov product for the BH3-mediated reaction. The experimental selectivities were then compared with predictions based on very high-level calculations using transition state theory. It was observed that the regioselectivity of the hydroboration of these alkenes is lower than can be accounted for by transition state theory. The regioselectivity discrepancy was explored through dynamic trajectory analysis. It is proposed here that the observed regioselectivity is that of a “hot” reaction, resulting from an exothermic association of alkene with borane to form an intermediate complex. This complex then overcomes low-energy barriers to form anti-Markovnikov and Markovnikov products faster than excess energy is lost to solvent. This hypothesis was explored for the hydroboration of internal disubstituted and trisubstituted alkenes. The applicability of transition state theory and the role of dynamics in determining the selectivity was gauged by determining product ratios in the presence of large excesses of borane and by considering the energetics of the calculated hydroboration reaction path. In all cases the enthalpic barriers for the rate-limiting association step and the formation of products from the intermediate π -complex were small. Isotope effects were determined experimentally and were found to be too small for the conventional mechanism to be the predominate pathway. When the hydroboration reaction of propene with BH2Cl or BHCl2 was explored through a series of experimental and theoretical studies, we observed that the regioselectivity was lower than that predicted from transition state theory. However, the calculated pathways indicated that energy barriers for product formation were too large for this reaction to be considered a “hot” reaction. The regioselectivity discrepancy was attributed to the chloroboranes undergoing equilibration with selective reaction of the most highly reactive forms of the borane.

Alkenes are remarkably versatile motifs as they can be further functionalized by a vast array of addition, reduction, and oxidation reactions. Thus their efficient synthesis is highly desired. Over the past 35 years, the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction has emerged as a powerful synthetic tool for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds. Herein is described the development of a one-pot two-step protocol for the synthesis of (E)-alkenes comprising palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl or heteroaryl halides, including chlorides, with alkenyl pinacolboronates, prepared in situ via solvent-free zirconium-catalyzed hydroboration of terminal alkynes. Avoiding isolation of intermediates saves time and reduces waste. The regio- and stereochemistry of the alkene is set by initial hydrozirconation of the alkyne. Addition of water to the second step deactivates the zirconocene catalyst, which is otherwise deleterious to cross-coupling. Thus this sequence exploits the water tolerance of the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.

Alkenes are remarkably versatile motifs as they can be further functionalized by a vast array of addition, reduction, and oxidation reactions. Thus their efficient synthesis is highly desired. Over the past 35 years, the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction has emerged as a powerful synthetic tool for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds. Herein is described the development of a one-pot two-step protocol for the synthesis of (E)-alkenes comprising palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl or heteroaryl halides, including chlorides, with alkenyl pinacolboronates, prepared in situ via solvent-free zirconium-catalyzed hydroboration of terminal alkynes. Avoiding isolation of intermediates saves time and reduces waste. The regio- and stereochemistry of the alkene is set by initial hydrozirconation of the alkyne. Addition of water to the second step deactivates the zirconocene catalyst, which is otherwise deleterious to cross-coupling. Thus this sequence exploits the water tolerance of the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.

Los compuestos organoborados son considerados de gran interés en síntesis orgánica debido a que el enlace C-B puede ser transformado en una amplia variedad de grupos funcionales. La adicción catalítica de H-B o B-B a enlaces C-C insaturados se considera uno de los procesos catalíticos con mayor control selectivo en la formación de dichos intermedios organoborados. En el capítulo primero de la presente tesis se muestra la evolución a través de la bibliografía de las tres principales reacciones de adición catalítica de boro a alquenos, como son hidroboración, diboración y &#61538;-boración. El segundo capítulo describe por primera vez la hidroboración catalítica asimétrica tanto en version homogénea como heterogeneizada de sistemas alilícos heterofuncionalizados. También describe el primer ejemplo de diboración de fenil alil sulfonas con sistemas catalíticos de Pt modificados con ligandos N-heterocíclicos. El tercer capítulo muestra la diboración catalítica de alquenos con sistemas catalíticos formados por Cu, Pd e Ir modificados con ligandos NHC. La presencia de una base y la adicción de un exceso de diborano son esenciales para obtener un alto grado de actividad y selectividad. El cuarto capítulo muestra una efectiva síntesis de boro enolatos quirales usando metales de bajo coste como son Cu y Ni modificados con ligandos NHC quirales y ligandos difosfina quirales respectivamente. El quinto capítulo describe las reacciones tándem "in situ" tales como adición de boro-acoplamiento cruzado catalizadas por complejos de Pt modificado con ligandos carbenos y Pd modificados con ligandos difosfina. / Organoboron compounds are some of the most useful reagents in organic synthesis. The carbon-boron bond, once formed, can be cleaved in a variety of ways, with or without homologation, leading to a wide range of useful functional groups. The catalytic addition of H-B or B-B across to unsaturated C-C bond is one of the catalytic processes with higher selective control in the C-B bond formation. In the first Chapter of this thesis shows the evolution through the literature of the three main catalytic reactions of boron addition to alkenes, such as hydroboration, diboration and &#61538;-boration.Chapter 2 describes the first attempt at the catalytic asymmetric hydroboration in both homogeneous and heterogenised version of functionalised allylic system. In addition, the first example of the diboration reaction of these mentioned substrates with complexes based on Pt modified with NHC ligands is described.Chapter 3 discusses catalytic diboration of alkenes based on Cu, Pd and Ir- catalytic system modified with NHC ligands. The presence of a base and the use of an excess of diboron reagent are essential to obtain high degree of activity and selectivity.Chapter 4 shows the successful synthesis of chiral boron enolates by using inexpensive metals such as copper and nickel modified with chiral NHC ligands and modulated chiral commercially available diphosphines respectively. In Chapter 5 describes complexes containing transition metals such as platinum and palladium modified with NHC ligands and P,P respectively capable to perform the in situ tandem catalytic boron-addition-Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) has been applied to the realtime study of homogeneous organometallic reactions. ESI-MS as a soft ionization technique is amenable to fragile organometallic complexes, and as a fast and sensitive technique is ideal for detecting low concentration intermediates within reactions. Pressurized sample infusion (PSI) was used for continuous sample infusion into the mass spectrometer, granting the air-free conditions necessary for these reactions to be successful, and resulting in reaction profile data that contains information about the dynamics of speciation of the catalyst. Collision induced dissociation (CID) was used to probe the binding affinities of various bisphosphine ligands as well as in characterizing intermediates in reactions. PSI ESI-MS was applied to the hydroboration reaction of the alkene tert-butylethene using the amine-borane H3B⋅NMe3 catalyzed by [Rh(xantphos)]+ fragments to show how the reaction progresses from substrates to products. PSI ESI-MS was also applied to the hydrogenation of a charge-tagged alkyne [Ph3P(CH2)4C2H]+[PF6]-, catalyzed by a cationic rhodium complex [Rh(PcPr3)2(η6-FPh)]+[B{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4]– (PcPr3 = triscyclopropylphosphine, FPh = fluorobenzene). This work demonstrated the use of ESI-MS in conjunction with NMR, kinetic isotope effects and numerical modeling for determining a mechanism of reaction. The hydroacylation reaction of a β–S substituted aldehyde and an alkyne catalyzed by [Rh(PiPr2NMePiPr2)(η6-FPh)]+[B{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4]– (PiPr2 = diisopropylphosphine) was studied by PSI ESI-MS while employing charged tags, allowing for observation of reaction progress and some key intermediates. A new concept for mechanistic analysis has been developed: coupling of an orthogonal spectroscopic technique with PSI ESI-MS. This new method was applied to the same hydroacylation reaction studied with charged tags. The use of IR in conjunction with ESI-MS led to rate information about the overall reaction along with dynamic information about catalytic speciation. Coupling of these techniques allows for detection over many magnitudes of concentration. / Graduate