This thesis describes the synthesis, characterisation and application of artificial metalloenzymes as catalysts. The focus was on two mutants of SCP-2L (SCP-2L A100C and SCP-2L V83C) both of which possess a hydrophobic tunnel in which apolar substrates can accumulate. The crystal structure of SCP-2L A100C was determined and discussed with a special emphasis on its hydrophobic tunnel. The SCP-2L mutants were covalently modified at their unique cysteine with two different N-ligands (phenanthroline or dipicolylamine based) or three different phosphine ligands (all based on triphenylphosphine) in order to increase their binding capabilities towards metals. The metal binding capabilities of these artificial proteins towards different transition metals was determined. Phenanthroline modified SCP-2L was found to be a promising scaffold for Pd(II)-, Cu(II)-, Ni(II)- and Co(II)-enzymes while dipicolylamine-modified SCP-2L was found to be a promising scaffold for Pd(II)-enzymes. The rhodium binding capacity of two additional phosphine modified protein scaffolds was also investigated. Promising scaffolds for Rh(I)- and Ir(I)-enzymes were identified. Rh-enzymes of the phosphine modified proteins were tested in the aqueous-organic biphasic hydroformylation of linear long chain 1-alkenes and compared to the Rh/TPPTS reference system. Some Rh-enzymes were found to be several orders of magnitude more active than the model system while yielding comparable selectivities. The reason for this remarkable reactivity increase could not be fully elucidated but several potential modes of action could be excluded. Cu-, Co-, and Ni-enzymes of N-ligand modified SCP-2L A100C were tested in the asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and trans-azachalcone. A promising 29% ee for the exo-product was found for the phenanthroline modified protein in the presence of nickel. Further improvement of these catalyst systems by chemical means (e.g. optimisation of ligand structure) and bio-molecular tools (e.g. optimisation of protein environment) can lead to even more active and (enantio)selective catalysts in the future.

This thesis describes the design, synthesis and application of artificial metalloenzymes for transition metal catalysed reactions not performed by natural enzymes. Unique cysteine containing protein templates were covalently modified with transition metal ligand complexes that generate catalytic activity, which allows for the use of virtually any protein template. SCP-2L was selected as template for the linear hydrophobic tunnel that traverses the protein, which has high affinity for linear aliphatic molecules. The use of catalysts based on this protein to induce increased activity in the biphasic hydroformylation of linear α-olefins is investigated in this work. For this purpose, unique cysteine containing mutants of SCP-2L were modified with phosphine ligands by application of a novel bioconjugation procedure. Application of rhodium adducts of the phosphine modified protein constructs led to up to a 100 fold increase of the turn over numbers was measured compared to a Rh/TPPTS model system which is used in industry. Furthermore, good selectivity towards the linear product was observed. If it can be confirmed that the found catalytic results truly are the result of substrate encapsulation by the protein scaffold, this system represents the first rationally designed artificial metalloenzyme which exploits the shape selectivity of the protein scaffold to direct the outcome of a catalytic reaction. In addition, a study was performed for the development of enantioselective artificial metalloenzymes. Nitrogen ligands were covalently introduced in SCP-2L and the obtained conjugates were applied in the copper catalysed Diels-Alder and Michael addition reaction. A promising 25% ee was found for the Diels-Alder reaction between azachalcone and cyclopentadiene using one of the created constructs. Further development of these catalyst systems with the use of both synthetic (e.g. optimisation of ligand structure) and biomolecular tools (e.g. optimisation of protein environment) for optimisation can lead to very efficient and enantioselective conversions in the future.

A importância que a catálise representa para a sociedade pode ser vista em números: 90% dos processos da indústria química e mais de 20% de todos os produtos industriais comercializados no mundo utilizam uma ou mais etapas catalíticas. Assim, desenvolver catalisadores eficientes, ativos e seletivos é a solução para criar tecnologias mais limpas e sustentáveis. Além disso, reações químicas que geram novas ligações C-C estão entre as transformações mais relevantes na química orgânica e são a base desse trabalho. Os catalisadores de ródio apresentados aqui fazem parte de um trabalho minucioso de desenvolvimento, síntese e caracterização de nanopartículas e suportes magnéticos funcionais que foram utilizados em transformações de diversas moléculas. O estudo inicial com nanopartículas de ródio suportadas, em reações de hidrogenação do cicloexeno, serviu para a compreensão de como se comportam essas nanoestruturas e da influência que diferentes ligantes orgânicos e estabilizantes podem ter em uma aplicação catalítica bastante conhecida. O sistema catalítico mostrou-se bastante ativo e reutilizável,despertando o nosso interesse ao seu aperfeiçoamento para aplicação em reações de hidroformilação. Antes da síntese de catalisadores suportados, estudos com nanopartículasnão-suportadas mostraram que um sistema modificado pela adição de fosfinas era necessário para ativação do catalisador e que o estabilizante utilizado afetava a atividade catalítica. Assim, para possibilitar o ancoramento eficiente das espécies ativas, uma modificação da superfície do suporte magnético com a metildifenilfosfina foi realizada. A fosfina funcionalizada sobre o suporte viabilizou sua interação com as espécies ativas e evitou a sua lixiviação, possibilitando o reuso do catalisador. A reação de hidroformilação do oct-1-eno atingiu 96% de conversão e 82% de seletividade para aldeídos, em 6 horas a 80°C. A carga metálica do catalisador foi de apenas 0,2%. Buscando aumentar a eficiência na etapa de imobilização do metal e uma melhor atividade catalítica que possibilitasse o uso de substratos mais complexos, o suporte magnético foi modificado com um polímero hiper-ramificado. Essa modificação possibilitou aumentar a quantidade de grupos fosfinas sobre o suporte, assim como levou a um significativo aumento na carga de metal. A reação de hidroformilação de produtos naturais foi possível e, com o composto estragol, conversões de 100% foram alcançadas em 6 horas, com seletividade de 70% para aldeídos. Mesmo com evidências que sugerem a formação de espécies ativas moleculares, o suporte modificado possibilitou que o catalisador mantivesse sua atividade e seletividade por pelo menos seis reações sucessivas. Os materiais desenvolvidos apresentaram estabilidade quando manuseados ao ar, sem prejudicar sua vida útil e fácil separação. / The importance of catalysis to society may be seen in numbers: 90% of chemical production processes and more than 20% of all industrial products sold in the world use one or more catalytic steps. Thus, the development of efficient, active, and selective catalysts is crucial for creating cleaner and sustainable technologies. In addition, chemical reactions that generate new C-C bonds are among the most important transformations in organic chemistry and are the basis of this work. Rhodium catalysts presented herein are part of a careful investigation, which included the development, synthesis and characterization of metal nanoparticles and magnetic functional supports for use in the transformation of various molecules. The initial study of supported rhodium nanoparticles in cyclohexene hydrogenation reactions has driven our understanding of the behavior of these nanostructures, and the influence that different ligands and stabilizers may have in a well-known catalytic application. The identification of a highly active and recyclable catalytic system aroused our interest for its improvement for application in hydroformylation reactions. Prior to the synthesis of supported catalysts, studies with non-supported nanoparticles revealed that a modified system with the addition of phosphines was required for activation of the catalyst and the stabilizer used affected the catalytic activity. Thus, to enable efficient immobilization of the active species, the surface of the magnetic support was modified with methyldiphenylphosphine. The catalyst preparation removed, at least partially, the stabilizer adsorbed on the nanoparticles surfaces. The phosphine-functionalized support anchored the active species and avoided their leaching, allowing the reuse of the catalyst. The hydroformylation reaction of oct-1-ene reached 96% of conversion and 82% of selectivity to aldehydes, in 6 hours at 80°C. The metal loading of the catalyst was only 0.2%. Seeking to increase the efficiency in metal immobilization step and a better catalytic activity that would enable the use of more complex substrates, the magnetic support was modified with a hyperbranched polymer, which allowed an increase in the amount of external phosphines, as well as a significant increase in metal loading on the support. The hydroformylation reaction of natural products was possible and, with the estragole compound, 100% of conversion was achieved in 6 hours with 70% of selectivity to aldehydes. Despite evidence that suggests the formation of active molecular species, the modified support has enabled the catalyst to retain its activity and selectivity for at least six successive reactions. The materials developed could be handled in air without damaging their catalytic activity, durability and separation properties.

The objective of the research described in the first part of this thesis involves the application of carbon monoxide and transition metals in key steps of a synthetic route to lavendamycin, an antic cancer compound, and its analogues. Lavendamycin is a pentacyclic compound that possesses a quinoline-5,8-quinone AB ring linked to a b- carboline CED ring. The development of general routes to the synthetic equivalents of the lavendamycin AB quinoline system together with a linker atom, quinoline -2- carboxaldehydes, as well as to the lavendamycin DE indole ring system, namely tryptophan derivatives, was addressed. The Pictet-Spengler cyclisation approach towards lavendamycin involves the reaction between quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde and tryptophan methyl ester to furnish the pentacyclic precursor of the methyl ester of lavendamycin. This synthetic approach requires the availability of quinoline-2-carboxaldehydes, previously prepared by the oxidation of 2-methylquinolines with toxic selenium dioxide. A general strategy towards the synthesis of the AB ring moiety utilising a pre-formed ring system such as commercially available 8-hydroxyquinoline has been successfully developed. It involved the high pressure palladium catalysed formylation of 2-bromo or other suitable 2-substituted quinoline derivatives under syngas (1:1 CO:H2). The preparation of the required 2-substituted quinoline derivative involved the methylation of the 8-hydroxylgroup followed by N-oxidation and then a rearrangement step. In both the Pictet-Spengler and Bischler-Napieralski synthetic approaches to lavendamycin, the CDE ring moiety is introduced using tryptophan methyl ester as building block. The application of this approach to the synthesis of lavendamycin analogues with a substituted D-ring required the availability of substituted tryptophan methyl esters. A general strategy towards the tryptophan derivatives starting with a Wittig reaction between a suitable 2-nitrobenzaldehyde precursor and 1,3-dioxolan-2- yl-methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide, followed by a two-stage, one -pot rhodium catalysed hydroformylation/reduction reaction, has been successfully developed. This methodology yielded ten different possible tryptophan precursors in moderate to good yields. The second part of the research described in this thesis included the identification of factors effecting the rate and regioselectivity of palladium catalysed methoxycarbonylation of a-olefins. The results showed that fast reactions under polar conditions give mainly linear esters. However, reactions under less polar conditions are slower, yielding mainly branched esters. Detailed analysis of the results suggest the operation of a so-called “cationic” mechanism (involving cationic palladium intermediates) in the formation of mainly linear esters, but the operation of a so-called “neutral” mechanism (involving neutral palladium intermediates) in the formation of mainly branched esters. The nature of the phosphine ligands was found to play a significant, but secondary role in determining regioselectivity of methoxycarbonylation. Another objective was the optimisation of the palladium catalysed hydroformylation of a-olefins. An evaluation of the efficiency of the palladium catalysed hydroformylation process required a comparison with the hydroformylation processes based on cobalt and rhodium. Variation of ligands (diphosphines of the type R2P(CH2)nPR2), solvents, acids, etc. had a dramatic effect on the products and the rate of the reaction. In the presence of trifluoroacetic acid 1-pentene is converted to C-6 aldehydes, while in the presence of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid 1-pentene is converted to C-11 ketones. Corresponding results were obtained with 1-octene as substrate. The palladium catalysts were found to also effect isomerisation of the a- olefin into internal olefins, but isomerisation was not a rate limiting process with respect to the hydroformylation reaction. Palladium catalysed isomerisation reactions occurred at a slower rate than the corresponding cobalt catalysed isomerisation process. However, with rhodium no isomerisation occurred. The comparison between cobalt, rhodium and palladium showed that rhodium is the best catalyst for the hydroformylation of a-olefins. The pressures and temperatures required for this process are much lower than that required for palladium and cobalt. The ligand used is triphenylphosphine, which is relatively inexpensive and non-toxic,in contrast with the more expensive ligands required for the cobalt and palladium hydroformylation processes. The use of palladium opens up the unique possibility of converting a-olefins into “dimeric” ketones, which show promise as precursors for the new class of geminidetergents. / Prof. C.W. Holzapfel

Les catalyseurs sont indispensables à l'industrie chimique moderne. La récupération des catalyseurs est nécessaire d'un point de vue économique et environnemental lorsqu'elle fait appel à des métaux coûteux et/ou toxiques. L'utilisation de la catalyse micellaire est un bon choix d'un point de vue de l'activité, du transfert de masse, et de recyclage mais comporte les problèmes de la formation d'émulsions stables liée au gonflement excessif et la perte physique du tensioactif libre en équilibre avec les micelles. L'objectif de ma thèse est réticuler les micelles au cœur pour éliminer ces problèmes. Après avoir construit de telles nanoparticules fonctionnalisées du ligand phosphine par la synthèse " one-pot " via PRC de type RAFT en émulsion. La première application des nanoréacteurs catalytiques a été réalisée en hydroformylation de l'octène en biphasique, donnant lieu à une conversion complète avec de faibles charges catalytiques, une décantation rapide et la possibilité de recycler le milieu catalytique. De manière inattendue, le catalyseur reste actif après une longue exposition à l'air, montrant un effet protecteur du polymère contre la dégradation du catalyseur. L'absence de coagulation à la fin de réaction est une preuve que ces nouveaux objets franchissent les limitations de la catalyse micellaire. / The catalytic processes are at the heart of chemical industry. Modern chemical industry, under pressure of stricter regulations and societal concern, is faced with the need to improve efficiency and cleaner production processes and catalysis is one the major keys to green chemical technology. Catalysts recovery is necessary from an economic and environmental point of view when it makes use of expensive and / or toxic metals. The aim of this thesis is based on an innovative approach related to micellar catalyst but in which the catalyst is covalent linked to the hydrophobic core of well-defined unimolecular, core-cross-linked micelles. The synthetic protocol is based on a convergent method via RAFT-mediated one-pot aqueous emulsion polymerization. The efficiency of these unimolecular micelles as catalytic nanoreactors has been shown using the industrially relevant hydroformylation of 1-octene, in order to provide a proof of principle, as a test reaction yielding turnover frequencies and l/b ratio comparable to those of related homogeneous systems. However, the catalyst phase could be easily separated from the organic product phase and recycled. A remarkable protecting effect of the active catalyst by the polymer scaffold has also been demonstrated. The absence of the coagulation at the end of reaction is evidence that these new objects function as micelles while eliminating the disadvantages of micellar catalysis such as the formation of stable emulsion.

The hydroformylation of olefins is one of the most important homogeneously catalyzed processes in industry to produce bulk chemicals. Despite the high catalytic activities and selectivity’s using rhodium-based homogeneous hydroformylation catalysts, catalyst recovery and recycling from the reaction mixture remain a challenging topic on a process level. Therefore, technical solutions involving alternate approaches with heterogeneous catalysts for the conversion of olefins into aldehydes have been considered and research activities have addressed the synthesis and development of heterogeneous rhodium-based hydroformylation catalysts. Different strategies were pursued by different groups of authors, such as the deposition of molecular rhodium complexes, metallic rhodium nanoparticles and single-atom catalysts on a solid support as well as rhodium complexes present in supported liquids. An overview of the recent developments made in the area of the heterogenization of homogeneous rhodium catalysts and their application in the hydroformylation of short-chain olefins is given. A special focus is laid on the mechanistic understanding of the heterogeneously catalyzed reactions at a molecular level in order to provide a guide for the future design of rhodium-based heterogeneous hydroformylation catalysts.

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Les phosphines sulfonées sont les ligands hydrosolubles les plus utilisés en catalyse organométallique aqueuse. La méthode la plus courante d’introduction des groupements sulfonate sur une arylphosphine consiste en la réaction de celle-ci avec l’oléum sulfurique. Dans ce contexte, la première partie de cette thèse a été consacrée à la synthèse de nouvelles triarylphosphines sulfonées encombrées possédant des groupements naphtyle. Plus précisément, les phosphines sulfonées synthétisées ont été du type [(1 ou 2-naphtyl)x(phényl)3-x]phosphine (x = 1, 2, 3) avec en moyenne, deux groupes sodium sulfonate par molécule. Dans la seconde partie de cette thèse, le développement d’une nouvelle voie d’accès à des phosphines du type R-diphénylphosphines disulfonées, où R est un groupement sensible aux conditions drastiques de sulfonation a été mis en œuvre. Ce protocole met en jeu deux étapes : la première étape implique l’alkylation de la benzyldiphénylphosphine trisulfonée (BDPPTS) ou du 1,2-bis(diphénylphosphino)éthane tétrasulfoné (DPPETS) par un dérivé halogéné (RX) apportant le groupement R sensible. La seconde étape consiste en le clivage réducteur par l’aluminohydrure de lithium (LiAlH4) des sels de phosphonium ou de bis-phosphonium ainsi obtenus et conduit à la R-diphénylphosphine disulfonée. Les phosphines qui ont été synthétisées par cette méthode sont les n-octyl-, n-dodécyl-, n-hexadécyl-, phénéthyl- et but-3-ényl-diphénylphosphines disulfonées. Les phosphines sulfonées synthétisées dans le cadre de cette thèse ont été valorisées en tant que ligands dans la réaction d’hydroformylation du déc-1-ène catalysée au rhodium et assistée ou non par des cyclodextrines. / Sulfonated arylphosphanes are the most applied water-soluble ligands in aqueous organometalliccatalysis. Sodium sulfonate groups are commonly introduced on an arylphosphane by using sulfuric oleum(SO3/H2SO4) followed by neutralization with aqueous sodium hydroxide. In this context, the first part of thiswork was focused on the synthesis of new bulky sulfonated triarylphosphanes with naphtyl groups. Moreprecisely, sulfonated [(1 or 2-naphtyl)x(phenyl)3-x]phosphane (x = 1, 2, 3) with an average sulfonation degreearound two have been prepared. In the second part, a new and convenient synthesis pathway to disulfonatedR-diphenylphosphanes with R an oleum-sensitive group was developed. This route involves two steps: thefirst step is the alkylation of trisulfonated benzyldiphenylphosphane (BDPPTS) or tetrasulfonated 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)ethane (DPPETS) with an halide compound (RX) bearing the sensitive group R. Inthe second step, the synthetized trisulfonated phosphonium or tetrasulfonated bis-phosphonium salt aresubsequently cleaved by lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH4) to give the corresponding disulfonated Rdiphenylphosphanes.The phosphanes obtained by this new methodology are the disulfonated n-octyl-, ndodecyl-,n-hexadecyl-, phenethyl-, and but-3-enyl-diphenylphosphanes. Most of the synthetized phosphanesin this work have then been tested as ligand in the rhodium catalyzed dec-1-ene hydroformylation assisted ornot by cyclodextrins.