This thesis presents advancements in the chemistry of selenium-bearing pincer ligands with respect to their synthesis, metal association and reactivity in addition to the overall nature of selenium as a donor atom. The synthesis of a new disilylamido ligand HN(SiMe2CH2SePh)2 2.1 and its potassium salt 2.2 is reported. The attempted metal association of these species was unsuccessful with various transition metals. Multinuclear NMR data suggests coordination to silver(I), 2.3 and copper(I), 2.4 with dπ-dπ back donation from the metal to the selenium donors. It is suggested from this data that –SePh can potentially act as a π-acceptor ligand as well as a σ- donor with heavy d metals. Another explanation for the observed shielding is conformational restrictions introduced by chelation. The preparation of new selenium-bearing diarylamine compounds RN(C7H6SeMe)2 (R=H: 3.1; R= Me: 3.10; R= Boc 3.11) via aryllithium chemistry is reported. Unsuccessful attempts to synthesize the –SePh and –SetBu derivatives are described using: aryllithium chemistry, Buchwald-Hartwig Amination cross coupling and Pd-catalyzed C-Se cross coupling. When reacted with MCl2(COD) (M= Pd, Pt), compound 3.10 coordinates with PdII forming a bidentate complex 3.12, while 3.1 forms tridentate complexes with PdII and PtII. NMR spectroscopy suggests the formation of a silver(I) complex 3.1-Ag from 3.1 and AgOTf, but X-ray diffraction data is required to determine its coordination motif. The new ligands and complexes have been fully characterized by (1H, 13C, 77Se) NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structures are reported for 3.10, 3.12, 3.3 and 3.4. The NMR spectrum of 3.1-Ag exhibits a similar effect as the complexes of disilylamido ligands with suggested potential dπ-dπ back donation from the metal to the selenium donors. The catalytic ability of the new complex 3.3 has been tested in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction without notable improvements to existing catalysts. The instability of reactive intermediates may contribute to the low conversions or the size of the methyl group may decrease nanoparticle formation, a suggested active species. / October 2016

Pulsed laser time-resolved ligand-substitution photochemistry for (DTO)W(CO)4, (DTN)W(CO)4, and (NP)Mo(CO)4 (DTO = 2,2,7,7-tetramethyl-3,6-diathiaoctane; DTN = 2,2,8,8- tetramethyl-3,7-diathianonane; NP = l-diethylamino-2- diphenylphosphinoethane) proceeds via initial fission of the W-S and Mo-P bonds, affording Cs and C4v five-coordinate intermediates for DTN and NP but largely Cs for DTO. The rates of reaction of these intermediates, via chelate ring closure and competitive bimolecular interaction with Lewis bases (= L, alkylphosphines and alkyl phosphites) for the Cs intermediates and via bimolecular interaction of L with the C4v intermediates, together with activation parameters for these processes have been determined. The rates of interactions at the Cs intermediates are significantly faster than at the C4v intermediates.

This thesis involves the design and development of reagents for the recovery of base metals (specifically zinc, nickel and cobalt) in hydrometallurgical solvent extraction processes. The work aims to demonstrate how ligand design can affectively tune the strength and selectivity of extractants to achieve efficient recovery of the desired base metals. Chapter 1 reviews current solvent extraction processes used in extractive metallurgy, encompassing both the well established technologies developed for sulfate streams as well as those more recently explored for treating chloride streams. Also reviewed, is the nature of the chemical binding involved in the three key modes of extraction; namely cation transport, anion transport and metal salt transport. Chapter 2 summarises the methodologies that have been established during this research for the appropriate testing of these reagents. Chapter 3 deals exclusively with the processing of zinc sulfide ores with an aim to design reagents to achieve concentration and separation of zinc in chloride hydrometallurgical circuits. The amido functionalised reagents that are reported have a common structural feature with ligands that have been previously studied by the Tasker group (Ross J. Ellis Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2009). A six membered chelate ring is formed by a protonated amino nitrogen atom and an amido oxygen atom in a sequence of the type R2HN+-CH2-NR-CO-R. This differs from those previously studied which have a sequence of the type R2HN+-CH2-CHR-CO-NR2. The pro-ligands (L) operate via an anion exchange mechanism (Equation 1) whereby two protonated ligands (LH+) coordinate to the outersphere of anionic zinc(II) or iron(III) chloridometalates from acid chloride solutions using both N-H and C-H hydrogen-bond donors. pH dependent solvent extraction experiments have concluded that this reagent series achieves zinc(II) loading with pH0.5 values that are competitive with the previous ligand series (Ross J. Ellis Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2009). Chloride concentration dependent solvent extraction experiments have demonstrated that the reagents show an unusually good selectivity for ZnCl4 2- over chloride or FeCl4 - in equilibrium of the type; yLorg + yH+ +MClx y- ⇌ [(LH)yMClx](org) (1) The development of bidentate and tridentate pyrazolone-based pro-ligands for the extraction of nickel and cobalt from mixed metal sulfate streams is considered in Chapters 4 and 5. These reagents (LH) operate via metal cation transport, where an inner-sphere complex of nickel(II) or cobalt(II) is formed with the ligand (L-) see Equation 2. A combination of N, O and S donors has been incorporated into 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4- acylpyrazol-5-ones and their respective 4-acylpyrazolone oximes in order to tune the bidentate ligands (L-) for optimal coordination with nickel(II) or cobalt(II). Substituent effects have also been investigated, by synthesising a series of 1-(2-X-phenyl)-3-methyl-4- acylpyrazol-5-one oximes [X = Cl, H]. Substitution in the 3-position of the phenol group in phenolic oximes has been reported to increase extractant strength for copper by two orders of magnitude (Ross S. Forgan Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2008). Similar improvements were not observed in this study. The nature of this effect has been attributed to buttressing of hydrogen-bonds, where the substituent forms a stabilising, bifurcated hydrogen-bond between the oximic hydrogen and the pyrazolonic oxygen. yLHorg + My+ ⇌ [(L)yM]org + yH+ (2) Tridentate analogues of the oxime reagents above have been prepared as imines derived from anilines contained o-O, S or N donor atoms. It was hoped that these would give high spin octahedral nickel(II) complexes in extraction processes. They proved to be weak extractants. Chapter 6 focuses of the development of bidentate pyrazolethiones for the selective extraction of cobalt from manganese in acidic sulfate streams. These reagents have been designed to favour coordination to metals in a tetrahedral geometry as shown by L. Emeleus and A. Smith for copper and zinc (Lucy Emeleus Thesis, University of Edinburgh 1999 and Andrew Smith Thesis, University of Edinburgh 2000).

Recent evidence has indicated that NSAIDs might have direct effects on CNS tissue in addition to their classical inhibitory action on COX enzymes. This thesis addresses this hypothesis using electrophysiological and behavioural techniques. The effects of fenamate and other NSAIDs on native neuronal GABA(_A), 5-HT(_3), nicotinic ACh, P2x and strychinine-sensitive glycine receptors, expressed on isolated vagus or optic nerves, was investigated using an extra-cellular recording technique. The fenamate NSAID, mefenamic acid (MFA) potentiated GABA (10µM)- evoked responses in the vagus nerve. Application of MFA also resulted in non-competitive inhibition of 5-HT-and a,βMeATP- evoked responses. Non-competitive like inhibition was also observed with flufenamic acid on DMPP- and a,βMeATP- evoked responses and with meclofenamic acid on GABA- evoked responses. Non-fenamate NSAIDs, including aspirin, did not significantly modulate the GABA(_A), 5-HT(_3), nicotinic ACh, P2x or glycine receptors. The cognitive and behavioural effects of fenamates and other NASIDs were then investigated. MFA (5-20mg/kg) caused a significant dose- and time-dependent enhancement in the non-spatial object discrimination working memory task when compared to saline controls. The enhancement observed with MFA was greater than that of the cognitive enhancer piracetam. This enhancement was not due to a change in non-mnemonic processes such as arousal, anxiety or locomotion. MFA also enhanced rats' performance in the spatial object location working memory task. The fenamate NSAID, meclofenamic acid (20mg/kg) mimicked the effect of MFA, but the non-fenamate NSAIDs aspirin and ibuprofen, did not enhance object discrimination indicating that these cognitive effects are not via inhibition of COX. The GABA(_A) receptor modulators diazepam, bicuculline and loreclezole, did not replicate the effect of MFA on object discrimination, suggesting that its effects do not depend entirely on the GABAa receptor. Scopolamine (0.25-lmg/kg) significantly impaired object discrimination in a dose-dependent manner. This action could be fully reversed by co-treatment with MFA (20mg/kg).In the T-maze task, MFA (20mg/kg) decreased the number of arm entry errors and days taken to reach criterion. The number of arm entry errors made when a 5-minute intra-trial interval was introduced was also significantly reduced by MFA compared with saline treated animals. In the radial maze, MFA (20mg/kg) did not decrease the number of never baited arm entries to reach criterion. However MFA did significantly reduce the number of re-entry errors to baited arms, compared to controls, when an intra-trial delay (10-30 sees) was introduced. These results support the hypothesis that MFA enhances spatial working memory and that these effects are not task-specific. Overall, the data in this thesis show that fenamate NSAIDs can directly modulate native neuronal ligand-gated ion channels and that MFA can enhance working memory in normal and scopolamine-impaired rats. These results suggest additional pharmacological potential for certain fenamate NSAIDs.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Die Todesrezeptoren Fas, TRAILR1 und TRAILR2 werden seit einigen Jahren aufgrund ihrer Fähigkeit, Apoptose zu induzieren, als therapeutisch interessantes Ziel bei der Therapie maligner Tumoren angesehen. Gleichzeitig werden immer mehr Entitäten von Tumoren beschrieben, die eine Resistenz gegen die Todesrezeptor-induzierte Apoptose aufweisen. In dieser Konstellation können neben den blockierten proapoptotischen Signalen insbesondere auch Todesrezeptor-assoziierte, protumoral wirksame Signalwege sichtbar werden, die unter anderen Umständen durch die Apoptose maskiert werden. In dieser Arbeit wurde die von FasL- und TRAIL-induzierte Signaltransduktion in einer apoptoseresistenten Variante der kolorektalen Karzinomzelllinie HCT116 untersucht. Eine aktivierende Mutation des PIK3CA-Gens protektiert diese Zellen aufgrund der konstitutiven Aktivierung des onkogenen PI3K/Akt-Signalweges gegenüber Todesrezeptor-vermittelter Apoptose. Durch Vergleich isogener Zelllinien, welche für den PIK3CA-Locus funktionell haploid waren und entweder ein Wildtyp oder ein mutiertes Allel trugen, konnte die Signaltransduktion von Fas und der TRAIL-Todesrezeptoren in apoptoseresistenten Tumorzellen, sowie deren Zusammenspiel mit dem PI3K/Akt-Signalweg im Detail untersucht werden. So wurde in dieser Arbeit gezeigt, dass nach Stimulation der HCT116 PIK3CA-mut protektierten Zellen mit FasL oder TRAIL die initialen Schritte der Apoptoseinduktion durch Todesrezeptoren bis hin zur Bildung des DISC und der Aktivierung von Caspase-8 ungestört vonstatten gehen. Der durch die PIK3CA-Mutation induzierte Schutzmechanismus muss deshalb unterhalb dieser frühen apoptoseinduzierenden Ereignisse wirksam werden. Darüber hinaus zeigte sich, dass Todesliganden in HCT116 PIK3CA-mut Zellen den proinflammatorischen NFκB-Signalweg aktivieren, wohingegen dieser Signalweg in HCT116 PIK3CA-wt Zellen durch die ablaufende Apoptose inhibiert wurde. Während HCT116 PIK3CA-wt Zellen nach Stimulation von Fas oder den TRAIL-Todesrezeptoren morphologisch die klassischen Anzeichen des apoptotischen Zelltods zeigten, veränderten die HCT116 PIK3CA-mut protektierten Zellen ihre Morphologie von einer mesenchymal-länglichen hin zu einer amöboid-abgerundeten Form, die Zellen blieben jedoch vital. Die Änderung der Zellmorphologie konnte mit dem Vorhandensein enzymatisch aktiver Casapse-8 verknüpft werden, generiert durch den Todesrezeptor-assoziierten DISC. Caspase-8 vermittelte die Reorganisation des Aktinzytoskeletts durch Spaltung und der damit einhergehenden Aktivierung von ROCK-1. Blockade der Caspase-8 Aktivierung in HCT116 PIK3CA-mut Zellen durch pharmakologische Inhibitoren oder ektope Überexpression von cFLIPS verhinderte entsprechend den FasL- oder TRAIL-induzierten Übergang zur amöboid-abgerundeten Zellform. Funktionell zeigten die amöboid-abgerundeten HCT116 PIK3CA-mut Zellen im Vergleich zu unstimulierten HCT116 PIK3CA-mut Zellen eine erhöhte Invasivität, was anhand erhöhter Spiegel an Urokinase im Überstand nachgewiesen werden konnte. Diese Arbeit beschreibt mit der Induktion einer amöboid-abgerundeten Zellmorphologie erstmals eine nicht-apoptotische Funktion von Caspase-8 im Kontext der Todesrezeptor-Signaltransduktion, die von der enzymatischen Aktivität abhängig ist. Weiterhin konnte ROCK-1 als Caspase-8 Substrat identifiziert werden. Ob durch die Aktivierung von ROCK-1 und die Reorganisation des Aktinzytoskeletts neben der Ausbildung einer amöboiden Zellmorphologie auch der amöboide Typ der Zellmigration in Gang gesetzt wird, müssen zukünftige Studien zeigen. / During the last years, the death receptors Fas, TRAILR1 and TRAILR2 emerged as promising therapeutic targets in cancer therapy. On the contrary, the number of tumor entities showing resistance against death receptor-induced apoptosis is still rising, thereby limiting the effectiveness of a therapeutic approach. Furthermore, under conditions where death receptor-induced apoptosis is blocked, cell death induction is not the only signal emanating from Fas and TRAIL death receptors. Non-apoptotic and even tumor-promoting signaling pathways may become apparent which are otherwise masked by ongoing apoptosis. This study provides insight in FasL- and TRAIL-induced signaling in an apoptosis resistant variant of HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. An activating mutation in the PIK3CA gene protected these cells against death receptor-induced apoptosis by constitutive activation of the oncogenic PI3K/Akt pathway. Comparing isogenic cell lines either harboring a PIK3CA wild-type allele or an activating mutated allele allowed investigation of signal transduction events associated with Fas and TRAIL death receptors in apoptosis resistant cells as well as their interplay with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Upon stimulation with FasL or TRAIL, PIK3CA-mut protected HCT116 cells were still capable of initiating the first steps of apoptosis induction as was evident from DISC-formation and activating caspase-8. This indicated that the PIK3CA-mut-granted blocking of the apoptotic program must act downstream of these early events. Furthermore, the proinflammatory NFκB pathway was turned on, as demonstrated by the phosphorylation of crucial signaling components and the enhanced expression of NFκB controlled target genes. Activation of the NFκB pathway, however, was masked in HCT116 PIK3CA-wt cells by ongoing apoptosis. After stimulation of Fas or TRAIL death receptors, HCT116 PIK3CA-wt cells exhibited classical morphological apoptotic features. Interestingly, stimulation of HCT116 PIK3CA-mut cells induced transition to an amoeboid-like morphology without affecting the viability. The changes in cellular morphology were crucially dependent on enzymatically active caspase-8 generated at the DISC. Caspase-8 cleaved and thereby activated ROCK-1, a key player in reorganisation of the actin cytoskeleton. Interfering with caspase-8 activation by ectopic expression of cFLIPS or pharmacological inhibitors abrogated the changes in cellular morphology. Additionally, HCT116 PIK3CA-mut cells showed upon FasL- or TRAIL-treatment increased invasiveness, demonstrated by elevated levels of urokinase in the supernatant of the cells. To date, the FasL- or TRAIL-induced transition of HCT116 PIK3CA-mut cells to an amoeboid-like cellular morphology is the first clearly demonstrated non-apoptotic function of caspase-8 in context of death receptor signaling, that is dependent on the enzymatic activity of the molecule. Furthermore, this study identifies ROCK-1 as a novel substrate of caspase-8. Further investigations will have to clarify the role of caspase-8 mediated activation of ROCK-1 and accompanied reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton with respect to the induction of the amoeboid-type of cell migration.

Faculty of Science School of Chemistry 0204045a tspmkwi@hotmail.com / New possibilities in collection of polarographic and potentiometric experimental data in studies of metal–ligand systems by automated instrumental methods, and subsequent treatment of the polarographic data, whereby the degree of reversibility of the electrode processes varies, have been investigated in this work. An automated instrumental set–up was developed for applications in studies of metal–ligand solution equilibria by potentiometry and sampled Direct Current Polarography (DCP). The new set–up was designed based on virtual instrumentation principles whereby several commercially– available hardware units as well as custom–built electronic components, were interfaced to a personal computer that was equipped with appropriate hardware and control programs. The instrumental set–up was tested and validated by studying the protonation equilibria of the ligand glycine by Glass Electrode Potentiometry (GEP) as well as the complexation of the ligand glycine with Cd2+ by GEP and DCP. The new set–up provides increased versatility, accuracy and convenience in obtaining large numbers of experimental points in solution equilibria studies by DCP and GEP as opposed to the use of tedious and time–consuming manual methods. Nonlinear curve–fitting procedures, based on closed–form models that were derived here from suitable theoretical equations identified from literature, have been investigated in this work for applications in analysis of DC curves recorded on metal–ligand systems with variation in electrochemical reversibility. The applicability and limitations of the curve–fitting procedures developed have been tested in analysis of the DCP data collected on several metal–ligand systems involving Cd2+, Pb2+, Zn2+ and the ligands glycine and sarcosine, whereby the DCP studies of these systems exhibited reversible, quasi–reversible or irreversible electrochemical processes. Information on applicability and limitations of the proposed methods investigated in this work was derived by comparison of the results obtained from DCP, using the proposed methods, with either reported literature data and/or results obtained in this work by the independent analytical technique of GEP, which was deployed wherever it was found to be applicable to study the metal–ligand systems considered.

Thesis advisor: Chia-Kuang (Frank) Tsung / Exchange reactions have enabled a new level of control in the rational, stepwise preparation of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials. However, their full potential is limited by a lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which they occur. This dissertation describes our efforts to understand this important class of reactions in two parts. The first reports our use of a linker exchange process to encapsulate guest molecules larger than the limiting pore aperture of the MOF. The concept is demonstrated, along with evidence for guest encapsulation and its relation to a dissociative linker exchange process. The second part describes our development of the first quantitative kinetic method for studying MOF linker exchange reactions and our application of this method to understand the solvent dependence of the reaction of ZIF-8 with imidazole. This project involved the collection of the largest set of rate data available on any MOF linker exchange reaction. The combination of this dataset with small molecule encapsulation experiments allowed us to formulate a mechanistic model that could account for all the observed kinetic and structural data. By comparison with the kinetic behavior of complexes in solution, we were able to fit the kinetic behavior of ZIF-8 into the broader family of coordination compounds. Aside from the specific use that our kinetic data may have in predicting the reactivity of ZIF linker exchange, we hope that the conceptual bridges made between MOFs and related metal−organic compounds can help reveal underlying patterns in behavior and advance the field. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

The current option for the management of Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW) and High-Level Waste (HLW) in the UK is to store it in stainless steel containers and then placed in a deep underground Geological Disposal Facility (GDF). This may subsequently be backfilled with a cementitious material generating very high pH conditions. The eventual corrosion of the stainless steel canisters containing the waste used for disposal will lead to reducing conditions thereby promoting a low Eh environment. Electrochemical experiments are needed to determine which uranium species is/are present at a particular pH and to model the redox behaviour of aqueous uranium in a potential GDF. The main aim of this project is to use cyclic voltammetry to deduce peak potentials for the various uranium redox couples in aqueous solution across the pH range and in particular the hyperalkaline range, as the surroundings of a GDF will be in high pH conditions. Data in the literature have been obtained only under acidic conditions where they were subsequently extrapolated to obtain data for alkaline conditions in some reports. Is this valid however? Experiments are therefore needed to obtain fundamental data under alkaline conditions to fill in gaps in the literature. In addition to radionuclides, complexing organic ligands present in a cementitious repository could have an important effect on the immobilisation of radionuclides in concrete. This is due to the ability of the ligands to form complexes with cations, thereby enhancing their solubility and mobility in the cement pore water. Four different ligands were investigated in this project that are relevant to nuclear waste disposal which comprised of carbonate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), gluconic acid and α-isosaccharinic acid (α-ISA). The peak potentials of each uranium redox reaction in aqueous solution were measured and the potentials were compared in ligand and non-ligand systems. The voltammograms were compared to obtain their similarities and differences in terms of the shape of the cyclic voltammograms, peak potentials, reversibility, current responses and etc. Analysis of the similarities and differences was needed to be able to increase the understanding of the complexation effects of these ligands with uranium under different pH conditions in aqueous solution.