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The isolation and identification of the active constituents from an Allium sp. extract possessing antibacterial activity was undertaken. The plant material of interest was extracted, purified and screened for antibacterial activity against a Gram positive bacteria. Multiple trials were performed and the isolation was scaled-up repeatedly, overall three compounds potentially possess the observed activity. One compound was identified to yield the majority of activity, and a refined procedure for its purification was established. Initial characterization studies demonstrated the major isolate of interest is novel compared to other isolates from the Allium genus. A ruthenium-catalyzed homo Diels-Alder [2+2+2] cycloaddition between bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene and alkynyl phosphonates was also studied. The observed reactivity was found to be dependent on the presence of the phosphonate moiety. The cycloaddition was compatible with a variety of aromatic and aliphatic substituted alkynyl phosphonates providing the corresponding phosphonate substituted deltacyclenes in low to good yields (up to 88%).

Palladium-catalyzed olefin dioxygenation is a powerful tool in the generation of complex and valuable substrates, one which may become complimentary to the well known Sharpless dihydroxylation. In this work the mechanism of this transformation is examined via reaction kinetics and Hammett studies, which corroborate a PdII/IV catalytic cycle and suggest that the rate determining step is the oxidation of PdII to PdIV. Olefin dioxygenation was also found to proceed in the presence of catalytic quantities of BF3•OEt2 or triflic acid, with stoichiometric hypervalent iodine oxidant and an acetic acid solvent. Furthermore, asymmetric variants of intramolecular palladium-catalyzed olefin dioxygenation were also investigated, which resulted in the formation of tetrahydrofuran products in up to 36% ee. Next, chelate-assisted C–H bond functionalization of indoles at the C7 position and of carbazoles at the C1 position was investigated with a variety of arylation, halogenation and oxygenation techniques. Lastly, our efforts towards the synthesis of a mono-phosphine based [5]helicene ligand via olefin metathesis and photocyclization strategies will be discussed.

Palladium-catalyzed olefin dioxygenation is a powerful tool in the generation of complex and valuable substrates, one which may become complimentary to the well known Sharpless dihydroxylation. In this work the mechanism of this transformation is examined via reaction kinetics and Hammett studies, which corroborate a PdII/IV catalytic cycle and suggest that the rate determining step is the oxidation of PdII to PdIV. Olefin dioxygenation was also found to proceed in the presence of catalytic quantities of BF3•OEt2 or triflic acid, with stoichiometric hypervalent iodine oxidant and an acetic acid solvent. Furthermore, asymmetric variants of intramolecular palladium-catalyzed olefin dioxygenation were also investigated, which resulted in the formation of tetrahydrofuran products in up to 36% ee. Next, chelate-assisted C–H bond functionalization of indoles at the C7 position and of carbazoles at the C1 position was investigated with a variety of arylation, halogenation and oxygenation techniques. Lastly, our efforts towards the synthesis of a mono-phosphine based [5]helicene ligand via olefin metathesis and photocyclization strategies will be discussed.

Sustainability is an urgent need to secure the progress of our civilization and to reach it is getting more and more into common conscious. From a chemists viewpoint, this means the customary practices of the last centuries have to be overcome, chemicals and chemical processes must be designed safe and environmentally friendly without long term consequences while at the same time conserving resources. A main part within this is the reduction of toxic waste, often originated in solvents. To accomplish this, new paths have to be discovered. One possible path is mechanochemistry, which describes chemical reactions initiated by mechanical forces like milling balls and vessels in a ball mill. In this environment solubility is not required and thus turns the use of solvents obsolete. However, in mechanochemical catalytic reactions for instance catalyst complexes with ligands are used, that originally ensured solubility in the former reaction medium. Since no solubility is required in this solvent free reaction environment, the complexes can be simplified to salts or further to pure metal powder catalysts. Complexes, salts and powders alike are difficult to recycle from the reaction mixture, thwarting the aim of sustainability. A concept to overcome this drawback is direct mechanocatalysis that uses milling materials themselves made of the catalytic metal, likewise accounting for the catalyst and the energy input. The aim of the thesis on hand was to expand the concept towards new direct mechanocatalytic reactions and gain insights beyond the mere phenomenology. In detail, the palladium catalysed Suzuki coupling as well as the copper catalysed Ullmann reaction/coupling, and Glaser coupling were investigated.

<strong>Introduction – Dearomatisation of Heteroaromatic Compounds</strong> The introduction provides a survey of dearomatisation reaction of heteroaromatics, with a particular focus on pyridines/pyridinium salts and furans. The mechanism, scope, and limitations of various approaches are covered, along with the goals of this project. <strong>Results and Discussion – Dearomatisation of Electron-Deficient Heteroaromatics</strong> This chapter initially explores the asymmetric addition of organometallic nucleophiles to pyridinium salts bearing a chiral counterion. Unfortunately, this approach ultimately proved unsuccessful, due to low observed enantioselectivities, and the low solubility of such salts. The second part of this chapter concerns the attempted asymmetric addition of dicarbonyl nucleophiles to electron-deficient furans, under conditions of chiral phase-transfer catalysts, affording bicyclic products in moderate enantioselectivity. Various alternative routes were also explored for the dearomatisation of furans and benzenoid systems. <strong>Introduction – Hydrogen Borrowing Alkylation Reactions with Alcohols</strong> The introduction surveys the range of methods available for the alkylation of various nucleophiles with alcohols under transition metal-catalysed conditions. Related methodologies are also explored, along with methods for the dehydrogenation of methanol. <strong>Results and Discussion - Rhodium-catalysed Methylation of Ketones Using Methanol</strong> This chapter describes the development of a novel ketone α-methylation using methanol. The development of reaction conditions is explored, followed by expansion of the substrate scope, including limitations of the methylation reaction. Mechanistic investigations support a methanol oxidation, aldol reaction/elimination, conjugate reduction pathway. Investigations into the role of O2 in the methylation reaction proved inconclusive. The utility of the reaction was also expanded via one-pot dialkylation reactions (work by Di Shen), Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of the products, and an attempted asymmetric transfer-hydrogenation. <strong>Results and Discussion - Interrupted Hydrogen Borrowing Reactions of Methanol</strong> This chapter looks to intercept intermediates from the α-methylation reaction. The selective methylenation of ketones is described, and a range of nucleophiles are screened for further functionalisation of ketones. Finally, a number of nucleophiles, including nitroalkanes, amines, peroxides and boronic acids are applied to one pot methylenation/conjugate addition protocols, affording complex products after two steps in one reaction vessel. <strong>Experimental</strong> Full experimental procedures and spectroscopic characterisation of compounds are provided.

Les travaux rapportés dans ce mémoire concernent le développement de la réactivité de N-tosylhydrazones dans la création de liaisons carbone-carbone et carbone-azote ainsi que leurs applications à la synthèse des analogues de l’isocombrétastatine A-4 (isoCA-4), aux propriétés antivasculaires.Au cours de ce travail, des molécules de type 1,1-diaryléthylène furent synthétisées par un couplage pallado-catalysé entre des N-tosylhydrazones et des aryles halogénés. Ainsi, des oléfines polysubstituées avec un motif alcoxyle, analogues de l’isoCA-4, ont présenté des activités biologiques intéressantes. De même, les N-tosylhydrazones constituent des intermédiaires pour la synthèse de 1,5-énynes aromatiques. La cyclisation de ces derniers a pu être contrôlée selon la nature du catalyseur utilisé. En effet, en présence de l’or comme catalyseur, une cyclisation 6-endo-dig majoritaire est obtenue alors qu’en présence du palladium, une cyclisation 5-exo-dig exclusive est observée. Cette méthode permettrait de synthétiser des analogues contraints de l’isoCA-4. Le couplage réducteur, catalysé au cuivre, entre des N-tosylhydrazones et des amines et conduisant à des motifs arylalkylamines fut développé. Enfin, un processus cascade entre des 2’-halogéno-biaryl- N-tosylhydrazones et des amines fournit des dérivés du fluorène par la création d’une liaison CN et d’une liaison CC sur le même atome carbénique. / This manuscript reports the development of new metal-catalyzed reactions using N-tosylhydrazones as coupling partners for the creation of carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bonds. These reactions are applied in the synthesis of analogues of isocombretastatine A-4 (isoCA-4), a vascular disrupting agent.First, a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between N-tosylhydrazones and aryl halides was developed. By this means, polysubstituted olefins with an alkoxy motif were synthesized and presented good biological activities. Then, aromatic 1,5-enynes were synthesized by a multi-step approach using N-tosylhydrazones as intermediates. The regioselectivity of the cyclisation of these enynes was controlled depending on the reaction conditions. Under gold catalysis, a major 6-endo-dig cyclisation pattern leads to naphthalene derivatives while under palladium catalysis; an exclusive 5-exo-dig cyclisation furnishes benzofulvène derivatives. Conformationnally restricted isoCA-4 analogues could be synthesized by applying this method. A copper-catalyzed reductive coupling between N-tosylhydrazones and amines leading to -branched amine derivatives was also developed. Finally, a cascade reaction between 2’-halo-biaryl-N-tosylhydrazones and amines furnished fluoren scaffold by the formation of CC and CN bonds on the same carbenic atom.

This thesis deals with method development in asymmetric catalysis and specifically syntheses of enantioenriched O-functionalized cyanohydrins. The first part describes the development of a method for the synthesis of O‑alkoxycarbonylated and O-acylated cyanohydrins. Ethyl cyanoformate and acyl cyanides were added to aldehydes in a reaction catalyzed by a chiral dimeric Ti-salen complex together with a tertiary amine. High yields and enantioselectivities were in most cases obtained. Mechanistic studies were performed and a reaction mechanism was proposed. ­ The second part describes a method in which the undesired minor enantiomer in a Lewis acid–Lewis base-catalyzed acylcyanation is continuously recycled into prochiral starting material. Close to enantiopure O‑acylated cyanohydrins were obtained in high yields. The third part deals with asymmetric acylcyanations of ketones. Acetyl cyanide was found to add to α‑ketoesters in a reaction catalyzed by a chiral Lewis base. Yields up to 77% and 82% ee were obtained. The final part describes an enzymatic method for high-throughput analysis of O‑acylated cyanohydrins. The enantiomeric excess and conversion were determined for products obtained from a number of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. / QC 20100818

Transition metal catalysis is a powerful tool for the construction of biologically active and pharmaceutically relevant architectures. With the challenge of continually depleting resources that this generation of scientists faces, it is becoming increasingly important to develop sustainable technologies for organic synthesis that utilize abundant and renewable feedstocks while minimizing byproduct formation and shortening the length of synthetic sequences by removing unnecessary protecting group manipulations and functionalizations. To this end, we have developed four new methods that transform inexpensive starting materials to valuable products. This dissertation covers the following key areas: 1) activation of CO2 for a mild and functional group tolerant synthesis of carboxylic acids, 2) oxidative twofold C–H bond activations as a strategy toward biaryls, 3) migratory O- to N-rearrangements in pyridines and related heterocycles for the preparation of N-alkylated heterocycles, and 4) asymmetric hydrogenations of cyclic imines and enamines en route to chiral 1,2- and 1,3-diamines and macrocyclic peptides.

Transition metal catalysis is a powerful tool for the construction of biologically active and pharmaceutically relevant architectures. With the challenge of continually depleting resources that this generation of scientists faces, it is becoming increasingly important to develop sustainable technologies for organic synthesis that utilize abundant and renewable feedstocks while minimizing byproduct formation and shortening the length of synthetic sequences by removing unnecessary protecting group manipulations and functionalizations. To this end, we have developed four new methods that transform inexpensive starting materials to valuable products. This dissertation covers the following key areas: 1) activation of CO2 for a mild and functional group tolerant synthesis of carboxylic acids, 2) oxidative twofold C–H bond activations as a strategy toward biaryls, 3) migratory O- to N-rearrangements in pyridines and related heterocycles for the preparation of N-alkylated heterocycles, and 4) asymmetric hydrogenations of cyclic imines and enamines en route to chiral 1,2- and 1,3-diamines and macrocyclic peptides.