Externally initiated o-tolyl initiated poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was synthesized according to Grignard metathesis polymerization at varying chain length to compare number average molecular weights (Mn) obtained by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and 1H NMR end group analysis. The extent of overestimation by GPC (1.3) was determined to be lower than previously reported for low Mn polymers. However, an apparent GPC quantification limit was observed as NMR Mn correlated well to predicted results. Static light scattering studies on high Mn polymers provided evidence that the true molecular weight was more similar to GPC-derived Mn. Despite nearly 100% external initiation efficiency, at a certain Mn limit new uninitiated chains may be synthesized. It is suggested that the synthesis of externally initiated P3HT should be limited to Mn below 40 kDa to ensure fully externally initiated chains. A proposal for the synthesis of externally initiated macrocyclic P3HT will also be discussed.

Oxides of ABO3 composition (A = alkali, alkaline earth or rare earth metal in general, B = transition metal) constitute a large family of metal oxides of current interest to solid state and materials chemistry. Among the several structure types exhibited by ABO3 oxides (ilmenite, LiNbO3, perovskite, YAIO3/YMnO3, KSbO3, pyrochlore, among others), the perovskite structure is probably the most well known and widely investigated. The ideal perovskite structure consists of a three-dimensional (3D) framework of corner-sharing BO6 octahedra in which the A cation resides in the dodecahedral site surrounded by twelve oxide ions. The ideal cubic structure occurs when the Gold Schmidt’s tolerance factor, t = (rA + ro)/{V2 (rB + ro)}, adopts a value of unity and the A-O and B-O bond distances are perfectly matched. The flexibility of the perovskite structure towards a wide variety of substitutions at both A and B sites gives rise to a very large number (several hundreds) of perovskite derivatives with subtle variations in structure. The perovskite structure can also tolerate vacancies at both the A and O sites giving ordered superstructures. Members of y4BO3 oxides have numerous properties that find technological application, such as nonlinear optical response (LiNbO3), Ferro electricity (BaTiO3), piezoelectricity (PbZn_xTixO3), magneto ferroelectricity (YMnO3), superconductivity (Bai_xKxBi03)5 colossal magnetoresistance (La^xCaxMnO3) and ionic conductivity [(Lil_a)TiO3] Ordering of cations at the A and B sites of the perovskite structure is an important phenomenon. Ordering of B site cations in double (/42BB'O6) and multiple (/43BB'2Og) perovskites gives rise to newer and interesting materials properties For example, 1*1 ordered Sr2FeMoO6 and Sr2FeReO6 are half-metallic ferrimagnets; Pb3MgNb2O9 is a relaxor ferroelectric; Ba3ZnTa2O9 is a low loss dielectric used in telecommunication and, last but not least, Ba3CoNb2O9 is a visible light driven photocatalyst. Realization of these properties in these materials depends crucially on the ordering/or otherwise of the B site cat ions in the perovskite structure. Furthermore, ordering of not only the metal atoms but also the oxygen/oxygen vacancies in the perovskite structure is equally important for the occurrence of superconductivity in the cuprate superconductor, YBa2Cu3O7. The ideal perovskite structure gives way to hexagonal YMnO3/YAIO3 structure for smaller A cations (tolerance factor, t < 1). Oxides of this structure are attracting current attention for the realization of multiple magnetoferroic properties. On the other hand, for larger A cations (tolerance factor, t > 1), various perovskite polytypic structures are formed. For example, BaNiO3 forms a 2H polytypic structure, SrMnO3 and BaRuO3 adopts a 4H and 9R structures respectively, where the SO6 octahedra share faces or faces and corners. Besides the foregoing 3D perovskites, a number of layered variants of the perovskite structure are also known. The most common layered perovskites are the Aurivillius phases, (Bi2O2)[A»-iBnO3n+iL the Ruddlesden-Popper phases, /4'2|7ln_iBnO3n+1], and the Dion-Jacobson phases, A[An^BnOzn+-\]' The two-dimensional (2D) perovskite unit, [^n-iBnOsn+i], which could be visualized as formed by slicing the 3D perovskite structure along <001>p is common for all the three layered perovskite series. The perovskite slabs are stacked alternately with various charge-balancing units, for example, with [Bi2O2]2+ in the Aurivillius phases and two alkali/alkaline earth cations (A+JA2+) in the Ruddlesden-Popper phases etc. Members of the layered perovskites are also important from the point of view of materials properties. For example, 2D magnetism (K2NiF4), superconductivity (La2-xSrxCuO4), ion exchange, Bronsted acidity, intercalation, exfoliation (K2La2Ti3Oio and CsCa2Nb3O10), photo catalysis (Rb2La2Ti30io) are some of the important materials properties found in layered perovskites. The high Tc-superconductors, Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+XJ TI2Ba2Ca2Cu3Oi0, TIBa2Ca2Cu3O9 and HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+x, also belong to the family of layered perovskites where the defective perovskite cuprate sheets are interleaved by other 2D entities like (Bi2O2), (TI2O2), (TIO) or (HgOx). In addition, Aurivillius phases, such as Bi2SrTa209 and Bi325Lao75Ti3Oi2, in thin film geometry are candidate materials for non-volatile ferroelectric memory devices. Synthesis plays a key role in realizing new structures and materials properties for ABO3 oxides. The conventional synthetic methods (ceramic method) involve mixing and heating of solid reactants at elevated temperatures. Although this approach continues to be employed to synthesize new materials, it is often limited by the fact that it yields thermodynamically stable phases. Since many of the perovskite oxides showing useful materials properties are metastable in nature and are required in the form of fine particles (free-standing / monodisperse / submicron or nanometer dimensions) for application, the ceramic methods are of no avail for this purpose. Therefore, materials chemists constantly endeavor to develop alternate synthetic routes that enable them to synthesize novel oxides under mild conditions. Typical examples of metastable perovskites are: the super conducting cuprates (e.g. TlosPbosS^CaC^Og) and perovskite based lithium ion conductors (La2/3-xLi3XDi/3-2xTiO3). Also the control of oxidation states in double perovskites, such as Sr2FeMoO6 and Sr2FeRe06 and pyrochlores such as Pb2MnReC>6, cannot be achieved by conventional means. Therefore, the synthesis of such metastable phases requires special synthetic strategies that involve soft chemistry (chimie douce) methods where mild reactions/reaction conditions are employed to access metastable phases. The present thesis is mainly devoted to an investigation of perovskite related oxides towards developing new synthetic strategies and materials as well as exploring hydrogen insertion - a novel materials property - in certain members of this family. Solid-state metathesis (SSM) reactions provide a convenient route for the synthesis of a wide variety of non-oxide ceramic materials such as, bondes, carbides, silicides, pnictides and chalcogenides. A typical metathesis reaction, for example, M0CI5 + 5/2 Na2S -» MoS2 + 5 NaCI + 1/2 S (1) involves exchange of atoms/ions between the reactants and is accompanied by a large enthalpy change (AHm = - 890 kJ mol"1) and high adiabatic reaction temperature (Tm = 1413 °C). The reactions are often self-propagating and believed to be driven by the formation of stable salt byproducts such as alkali halides with high lattice energy. In our laboratory we have developed a different kind of metathesis reaction for the synthesis of perovskite related oxides, a typical example being, K2La2Ti30io + 2 BiOCI -* [Bi2O2]La2Ti3O10 + 2 KCI. A major difference between metathesis reactions (1) and (2) is that unlike (1), reaction (2) is not self-propagating, requiring longer duration. In this study, we have investigated metathesis reactions of the second kind at some length for the synthesis of perovskite related oxides. We found that rocksalt oxides such as UMO2 (M = Mn, Co) and Li2TiO3 constitute convenient precursors for the formation of v4BO3 perovskite oxides in metathesis reactions with appropriate reaction partners such as halides, oxyhalides or sulphates, LiCoO2 + LaOCl -» LaCoO3 + LiCt (3) LiMnO2 + LaOCl + x/2 O2 -> LaMnO3+x + LiCI (4) Li2TiO3 + PbSO4 -» PbTiO3 + Li2SO4. (5) We could synthesize not only well known ABO3 oxides but also functional perovskites such as PbZr0 4sTio 52O3 (PZT), La2/3Cai/3MnO3 as well as superconducting BaPbo75Bio2s03 by this method. We could also synthesize La2CuO4 and its superconducting analogues, La185^oi5Cu04 (A = Sr, Ba), by the same method using Li2CuO2 and LaOCl. For the synthesis of double perovskites A2BB%OQ by this method however, appropriate lithium containing rocksalt precursor oxides are not known in the literature. Therefore, we first synthesized rocksalt precursor oxides of the general formula Li4MWO6 (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni) and established their identity. Using these precursor oxides, we could synthesize the double perovskite oxides Sr2MWO6 (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni) in the metathesis reaction Li4MWO6 + 2 SrCI2 -» Sr2MWO6 + 4 LiC Significantly, the double perovskites are formed with an ordered structure at relatively low temperatures (750 - 800 °C) as compared to the high temperatures (up to 1400 °C) usually employed for the synthesis of these materials by conventional ceramic approach. Next, we investigated ABO$ compositions corresponding to the formula for 6 = Cu and Ni, where we could obtain a YAIO3 superstructure consisting of triangular Cu clusters for 6 = Cu, whereas a perovskite phase for B = Ni. Moreover, the Cu-phase appears to be a unique line phase formed around LasCi^VOg composition, whereas a continuous series of GdFeO3-like perovskite oxides are formed for LaNii»xVxO3 (0 < x < 1/3)forS = Ni. Considering the current interest in bringing different transition metal ions (d°/dn electronic configuration) in the same perovskite related structure towards developing multiferroic materials, we investigated the substitution of aliovalent cations in a typical Aurivillius phase, Bi2Sr2Nb2TiOi2. We have characterized new aliovalent cation substituted Aurivillius phases, Bi2SrNaNb2TaOi2, Bi2Sr2Nb2Zr012J Bi2Sr2Nb2 5Feo50i2 and Bi2Sr2Nb2 ezZno 33O12. Lastly, we investigated the interaction of hydrogen with perovskite oxides, /\MnO3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) in an attempt to characterize possible existence of hydrogen-inserted oxide materials. An oxide-hydride of the formula LaSrCoO3H07 has recently been reported in the literature. Conventionally, the interaction of hydrogen with perovskite related oxides is known to result in either anion deficient phases (e.g. CaMnO3 -> Ca2Mn205), or hydrogen inserted materials, 'hydrogen bronzes', (e. g. HXWO3, HxBaRuO3), where hydrogen acts as an electron donor (H -^ H+ + e). We have characterized a new mode of hydrogen incorporation in Pt dispersed BaMnO3 and SrMnO3. Detailed investigation of the hydrogen sorption behaviour of 1 atom % Pt dispersed materials showed that about 1.25 mass % of hydrogen is inserted per mole of BaMnO3/Pt, corresponding to an insertion of - 3 hydrogen atoms giving 'BaMnOsHs'. While the exact nature of inserted hydrogen is yet to be established unambiguously, our results suggest that the inserted hydrogen is unlikely to be protonic (H+) in the hydrogen insertion product, BaMnO3H3. The results of these investigations are presented in the thesis consisting of seven chapters. Chapter 1 gives an overview of perovskite related oxides - structure, properties and synthesis. Chapter 2 presents metathesis as a general route for the synthesis of ABO3 oxides and illustrates the method by transforming several rocksalt oxides such as LiCoO2, Li2Mn03 and Li2Ti03 to corresponding ABO3 oxides, LaCoO3, /\MnO3 and ATiO3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba). Uniformly in all the cases, the perovskite oxides are obtained in the form of loosely connected submicron sized particles at considerably lower temperatures than those usually employed for their synthesis by ceramic methods. Thermodynamic calculations have also been carried out to probe into the driving force of metathesis reactions involved in the synthesis. Chapter 3 describes an extension of the metathesis route for the synthesis of double perovskites, Sr2MWO6 (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni). For this purpose, first we synthesized new rocksalt oxides of the general formula, Li4MWO6 (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni). The oxides adopt rocksalt superstructures related to Li4MgReO6 (for M = Mg, Mn, Ni) and U4WO5 (for M = Fe). Metathesis reaction between Li4MWO6 and SrCi2 at 750 - 800 °C yields the corresponding double perovskites where the octahedral site M and W are ordered in the long range. Formation of ordered perovskite oxides at relatively low temperatures (750 - 800 °C) by the metathesis route is a significant result, considering that synthesis of these oxides by conventional ceramic method requires much higher temperatures (1300 - 1400 °C) and prolonged annealing. Synthesis of La2CuO4, Nd2CuO4 and super conducting La-j 85>4oi5Cu04 (A = Sr, Ba) by the metathesis route is described in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 deals with synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of mixed-metal oxides of ABO3 composition in the La-6-V-O (6 = Ni, Cu) systems. While the B = Ni oxides adopt GdFeO3-like perovskite structure containing disordered nickel and vanadium at the octahedral B site, La3Cu2VO9 crystallizes in a YAIO3-type structure. A detailed investigation of the superstructure of nominal La3Cu2VO9 by WDS analysis and Rietveld refinement of powder XRD data reveals that the likely composition of the phase is Lai3Cu9V4O38 5, where the Cu and V atoms are ordered in a Vi3ah (ah = hexagonal a parameter of YAlCMike subcell) superstructure. Magnetic susceptibility data support the proposed superstructure consisting of triangular Cu3 clusters. The present work reveals the contrasting behaviour of La-Cu-V-O and La-Ni-V-0 systems, while a unique line-phase related to YAIO3 structure is formed around La3Cu2VO9 composition in the copper system, a continuous series of perovskite-GdFeO3 solid solutions, LaNi1.0CVxO3 for 0 < x < 1/3 seems to obtain in the nickel system. The chapter also describes the formation of a new transparent Cu(l) oxide, Lai4V6CuO365, and its characterization. This oxide was obtained during attempts to grow single crystals of LasC^VOg. Single crystal structure determination of Lai4V6CuO36 5 showed that the structure contains isolated VO43" tetrahedra and [OCuO]3" sticks dispersed in a lanthanum oxide network. Films of Lai4V6CuO36 5 were grown on R-plane sapphire by using pulsed laser deposition. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction analyses of the films showed oriented growth of the title phase, with an optical band gap of -~ 5 eV and n-type conductivity Chapter 6 presents the work on the flexibility of the Aurivillius structures for substitution of aliovalent/isovalent cations at both A and 6 sites of the perovskite slabs. For example, in a typical n = 3 member, Bi2Sr2Nb2TiOi2, substitution of both Sr and Na at the A site and Ta at the B site has enabled us to synthesize a new n = 3 member, Bi2SrNaNb2Ta0i2, where we see a preference of Nb for the terminal octahedral sheets. Similarly, aliovalent substitution only at the B site of the perovskite slabs of Bi2Sr2Nb2TiOi2 has yielded new members for specific compositions, Bi2Sr2Nb2ZrOi2, Bi2Sr2Nb2 5Feo50i2 and Bi2Sr2Nb2 67Zno33012 that tend to be oxygen-stoichiometric. The latter phases again show a preference of Nb for the terminal octahedral sites that are strongly distorted as compared to the middle octahedral site. This chapter also describes substitution of La3+ for Bi3+ in the perovskite slabs of Bi4Nb30i5 stabilizing a new series of n = 1/ n = 2 intergrowth Aurivillius phases of the formulas, Bi4LnNb3Oi5 (Ln = La, Pr, Nd) and Bi4LaTa30i5. The present work suggests that replacement of Bi3+: 6s2 lone pair ion by non-6s2 cations such as Sr2"* and La3+ in the perovskite slabs of Aurivillius phases tends to render the structure Centro symmetric and the materials lose NLOSHG response. Chapter 7 describes our investigation of the interaction of hydrogen with alkaline earth manganites (IV) >AMnO3 (>A = Ca, Sr, Ba) dispersed with 1 atom % Pt. The result shows an unprecedented uptake of hydrogen by BaMnO3/Pt to the extent of - 1.25 mass % at moderate temperatures (190 - 260 °C) and ambient pressure. Gravimetric sorption isotherms and mass spectrometric analysis of the desorption products indicate that approximately three hydrogen atoms per mole of BaMnCVPt is inserted reversibly. The nature of hydrogen in the insertion product, BaMnO3H3, is discussed in the light of the structure of BaMnC>3. The work presented in the thesis is carried out by the candidate as a part of the Ph. D. training programme and most of it has been published in the literature. He hopes that the studies reported here will constitute a worthwhile contribution to the materials chemistry of ABO3 oxides in general.

Among Nature's creation, terpenoids are more versatile and exciting natural products. In a remarkable display of synthetic ingenuity and creativity, nature has endowed terpenes with a bewildering array of carbocyclic frameworks with unusual assemblage of rings and functionalities. This phenomenal structural diversity of terpenes makes them ideal targets for developing and testing new synthetic strategies for efficient articulation of carbocyclic frameworks. The thesis entitled “Ireland-Claisen Rearrangement Based Strategy to Sesquiterpenes Containing Vicinal Quaternary Carbon Atoms” demonstrates the utility of the Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement and RCM reactions for the synthesis of a variety of sesquiterpenes containing vicinal quaternary carbon atoms. The results are described in five different sections, viz., (a) Synthesis of herbertene-1,13-diol and α-herbertenol; (b) Total syntheses of herbertenolide, herberteneacetal, herbertene-1,14-diol and herbertene-1,15-diol; (c) First total synthesis of the spirobenzofuran isolated from Acremonium sp. HKI 0230; (d) Total synthesis of lagopodin A; and (e) Synthesis of Laurencenone C, α- and β-chamigrenes. Complete details of the experimental procedures and the spectroscopic data were provided in a different section. A brief introduction is provided wherever appropriate to keep the present work in proper perspective. The compounds are sequentially numbered (bold), references are marked sequentially as superscripts and listed in the last section of the thesis. All the spectra included in the thesis were obtained by xeroxing the original NMR spectra. To begin with a short and efficient synthesis of herbertene-1,13-diol and α-herbertenol has been achieved starting from 2-allyl-4-methylanisole. Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement of the dimethylallyl 2-arylpent-4-enoate, obtained from p-cresol in seven steps, followed by RCM reaction of the resultant diene generated 1-aryl-1,2,2-trimethylcyclopent-3-enecarbo-xylate, which on functional group transformations provided (±)-herbertene-1,13-diol and (±)-α-herbertenol. Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement of E-3-(2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)but-2-en-1-yl 2-methylpent-4-enoate furnished a stereoisomeric mixture of the dieneesters, which on RCM reaction generated an epimeric mixture of 2-aryl-1,2-dimethylcyclopent-3-enecarboxylates. These esters were further elaborated into (±)-herbertene-1,14-diol, (±)-herbertene-1,15-diol and (±)-herberteneacetal via epi-herbertenolide and (±)-herbertenolide. First total synthesis of a spirobenzofuran isolated from Acremonium sp. HKI 0230 has been accomplished starting from 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenylacetate, confirming the structure of the natural product. Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement of dimethylallyl 2-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)pent-4-enoate followed by RCM reaction and demethylation furnished a lactone, cyclopentaspirobenzofuranone, which on further functional group transformations completed the first total synthesis of the spirobenzofuran. 1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-1,2-dimethylcyclopent-3-enecarboxylate, an intermediate in the synthesis of spirobenzofuran, has been further elaborated into 1-aryl-1,2,2-trimethylcyclopent-3-ene, which on functional group transformations transformed into (±)lagopodin A and (±)-enokipodins A and B. Efficient total syntheses of laurencenone C, α-chamigrene and β-chamigrenes have been accomplished employing an Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement and RCM reaction as key steps starting from the Diels-Alder adduct of isoprene and acrylic acid. Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement of dimethylallyl cyclohex-3-enecarboxylate generated methyl 1-(1',1'-dimethylallyl)cyclohex-3-enecarboxylate, which was further elaborated into 5,5,9-trimethyl-spiro[5.5]undeca-3,8-dien-1-ol employing an RCM reaction as the key step. The spirodienol on further functional group transformations generated (±)-laurencenone C, (±)-α-chamigrene and (±)-β-chamigrene.

<p>This thesis is divided into three separate parts with amino alcohols as the common feature. The first part describes the development of a novel three-component approach to the synthesis of α-hydroxy-β-amino esters. Utilizing a highly diastereoselective Rh(II)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides to various aldimines, syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters formed in high yields and excellent diastereoselectivities. This methodology was also applied in a short enantioselective synthesis of the C-13 side-chain of Taxol.</p><p>The second part of the thesis describes a total synthesis of D-erythro- Sphingosine based on a cross-metathesis approach to assemble the polar head group and the aliphatic chain.</p><p>The last part deals with the application of amino alcohols as scaffolds in a diversity-oriented protocol for the development of libraries of small polycyclic molecules. The design of the libraries is based on the iterative use of two powerful ring-forming reactions; a ring-closing metathesis and an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, to simultaneously introduce structural complexity and diversity.</p>

Block copolymer self-assembly has demonstrated sub-optical lithographic resolution . High values of chi, the block copolymer interaction parameter, are required to achieve next-generation lithographic resolution . Unfortunately, high values of chi can lead to thin film orientation control difficulties , which are believed to be caused by large differences in the surface energy of each block relative to the substrate and the free surface. The substrate-block interface can be modified to achieve a surface energy intermediate to that of each individual block ; the air-polymer interface, however, presents additional complications. This thesis describes the synthesis of polymers for top coat surface treatments, which are designed to modify the surface energy of the air-block copolymer interface and enable block copolymer orientation control upon thermal annealing. Polymers with β-keto acid functionality were synthesized to allow polarity switching upon decarboxylation. Syntheses of anhydride containing polymers were established that provide another class of polarity switching materials. / text

Les macrocycles ont longtemps attiré l'attention des chimistes. Malgré cet intérêt, peu de méthodes générales et efficaces pour la construction de macrocycles ont été développés. Récemment, notre groupe a développé un programme de recherche visant à développer de nouvelles voies vers la synthèse de paracyclophanes et ce mémoire présente l pluspart des efforts les plus récents dans ce domaine. Traditionnellement, la synthèse de paracyclophanes rigides est facilitée par l'installation d'un groupe fonctionnel capable de contrôler la structure de la molécule en solution (ex un élément de contrôle de conformation (ECC)). Cependant, cette approche utilisant des auxiliaires exige que le ECC soit facilement installé avant macrocyclisation et facilement enlevé après la cyclisation. Le présent mémoire décrit une méthode alternative pour guider la macrocyclisations difficile à travers l'utilisation d'additifs comme ECC. Les additifs sont des hétérocycles aromatiques N-alkylé qui sont bon marché, faciles à préparer et peuvent être facilement ajoutés à un mélange de réaction et enlevés suite à la macrocyclisation par simple précipitation et de filtration. En outre, les ECCs sont recyclables. L'utilisation du nouveau ECC est démontré dans la synthèse des para-et métacyclophanes en utilisant soit la métathèse de fermeture de cycle (RCM) ou couplage de Glaser-Hay. / Macrocycles have long attracted the attention of chemists. Despite that interest, few general and efficient methods for the construction of macrocycles have been developed. Recently our group has developed a research program aimed at developing novel routes towards the synthesis of paracyclophanes and the present thesis details the most recent efforts in this area. Traditionally, the synthesis of rigid paracyclophanes is aided by the installation of functional groups capable of controlling the solution state structure of the molecules (ie. a conformational control element (CCE)). However, this auxiliary-like approach requires that the CCE be readily installed prior to macrocyclization and easily removed following the cyclization. In the present thesis describes an alternative method to guiding difficult macrocyclizations through the use of additives as CCEs is described. The additives are N-alkylated aromatic heterocycles that are cheap, easily prepared and can be easily added to a reaction mixture and removed following the macrocyclization through simple precipitation and filtration. In addition, the CCEs are recyclable. The use of the new CCEs is demonstrated in the synthesis of para- and metacyclophanes using either ring closing metathesis (RCM) or Glaser-Hay couplings.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Externally initiated o-tolyl initiated poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was synthesized according to Grignard metathesis polymerization at varying chain length to compare number average molecular weights (Mn) obtained by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and 1H NMR end group analysis. The extent of overestimation by GPC (1.3) was determined to be lower than previously reported for low Mn polymers. However, an apparent GPC quantification limit was observed as NMR Mn correlated well to predicted results. Static light scattering studies on high Mn polymers provided evidence that the true molecular weight was more similar to GPC-derived Mn. Despite nearly 100% external initiation efficiency, at a certain Mn limit new uninitiated chains may be synthesized. It is suggested that the synthesis of externally initiated P3HT should be limited to Mn below 40 kDa to ensure fully externally initiated chains. A proposal for the synthesis of externally initiated macrocyclic P3HT will also be discussed.

Le travail présenté dans ce manuscrit concerne la synthèse et une évaluation biologique de 10 nouveaux iminosucres. Les iminosucres sont une classe importante d'inhibiteurs de glycosidases (enzymes catalysant l'hydrolyse d'oligosaccharides), et l'activité inhibitrice de nos produits a été évaluée vis-à-vis d'un panel de 7 glycosidases différentes.Notre laboratoire a récemment décrit la préparation de cétonitrones cycliques polyalcoxylées à partir de cétoses tels que le D-fructose ou le L-sorbose (des sucres naturels abondants). Nous avons imaginé utiliser ces cétonitrones comme intermédiaires clés pour la synthèse de nouveaux iminosucres de structure originale, comportant un centre quaternaire en alpha de leur atome d'azote. Une partie de ce travail de thèse a consisté à améliorer la synthèse de ces cétonitrones, puis à trouver des conditions de C-vinylation diastéréosélective afin d'accéder sélectivement et efficacement à quatre pipéridines diastéréoisomères après réduction de la fonction N-hydroxylamine formée. La N-allylation de ces dernières a permis l'accès à des bis-alcénylpipéridines qui ont pu être aisément transformées en N-propylpipéridines,alpha-gem-disubstituées tétrahydroxylées après hydrogénation (des deux chaînes insaturées) et débenzylation.Les bis-alcénylpipéridines ont également été employées pour une réaction de métathèse cyclisante qui conduit au squelette indolizidine avec une double liaison en C1-C2. L'hydrogénation ou la dihydroxylation de cette double liaison, suivie par une étape de débenzylation a permis la synthèse d'indolizidines polyhydroxylées (tétra- et hexahydroxylées) inédites, substituées en jonction de cycle (position 8a). Un des composés synthétisés (une indolizidine) s'est révélé être un inhibiteur puissant et sélectif d'-glucosidases avec une concentration inhibitrice médiane de 52 nM (sur alpha-glucosidase de riz) et un mode d'inhibition peu répandu dans cette famille de molécules (inhibition non compétitive mixte). / This manuscript describes the synthesis and bioevaluation of 10 new iminosugars. Iminosugars are an important class of compounds, which can inhibit the activity of glycosidases (enzymes which catalyze oligosaccharide hydrolysis). The inhibitory activity of our products was assessed towards a panel of 7 glycosidases.Our laboratory has recently succeeded in the preparation of polyalkoxylated cyclic ketonitrones from ketoses such as D-fructose or L-sorbose (abundant natural sugars). Herein, we envisaged their utilization as precursors of new, structurally original iminosugars, bearing a quaternary center in of their nitrogen atom. We firstly improved the synthesis of these ketonitrones, and then we optimized conditions for their diastereoselective C-vinylation, in order to access selectively and efficiently four diastereoisomeric piperidines after reduction of the formed N-hydroxylamine function. The N-allylation of these piperidines gave access to the corresponding bis-alkenylpiperidines, which were readily transformed into ,alpha-gem-disubstituted tetrahydroxylated N-propylpiperidines after hydrogenation (of both unsaturated chains) and debenzylation.The bis-alkenylpiperidines were also engaged in a ring closing metathesis reaction, providing the indolizidine skeleton with a double bond in C1-C2. Hydrogenation or dihydroxylation of the latter, followed by a debenzylation step, produced original polyhydroxylated indolizidines (tetra- and hexahydroxylated), which are substituted at their ring junction (8a position). One of the synthesized compounds (an indolizidine) was found to be a highly potent and selective inhibitor of -glucosidases with a median inhibitory concentration of 52 nM (rice alpha-glucosidase) and an uncommon mode of inhibition for this class of molecules (mixed non-competitive inhibition).

Denna studie handlar om variation i skriven meänkieli med fokus på variation i ett specifikt drag, h i efterstavelsen (t.ex. saunhaan &gt; sauhnaan 'till bastun'). Tidigare forskning har visat att detta språkdrag påträffas med omfattande variation efter ett särskilt mönster i talspråket (t.ex. Mantila 1992, 2010; Vaattovaara 2009). Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om, och i vilken omfattning, det mönster som beskrivits för det talade språket också påträffas i skriven text på meänkieli. Studien föranleds av det faktum att meänkieli för närvarande befinner sig i en standardiseringsprocess. h i efterstavelsen i talat språk utgör ett komplext system, som kan uppfattas av vanliga språkanvändare som ”svårt att beskriva”. Hur som helst har tidigare forskning indikerat att användningen av h i talat språk är ganska systematiserat och ett mönster för variationen har utvecklats i en bestämd riktning över tid. Med tanke på denna studie är det av intresse att undersöka om mönstret är liknande i skriftlig form, det vill säga om de enskilda författarna i den undersökta korpusen använder sig av ett liknande system för h i sina litterära verk. Studien har inte som syfte att diskutera språkplanering eller principer för standardisering, utan syftet är att skapa en helhetsbild av språklig variation i användningen av h i skriftspråket. Korpusen består av 43 böcker av 18 olika författare från tre olika decennier (1980–2000). Från varje publikation är de första 5250 orden excerperade om verket innehåller fler ord (barnböckerna, som är kortare och till antalet 18, har excerperats i sin helhet.) Studiens primära fokus besvaras med hjälp av frågorna huruvida det förekommer variation mellan de olika författarna, och vilken typ av variation som förekommer inom de texter varje enskild författare skrivit, även över tid betraktat. Syftet med studien är att avslöja om variationsmönster eventuellt sprider sig, eller om mönstret indikerar lika användningssätt mellan de enskilda författarna. Enligt sociolingvistiska teorier om språklig förändring borde en s.k. undersökning i verklig tid över flera decennier visa huruvida en pågående förändring är på gång. Hypotesen för denna studie (huvudsakligen på basis av Mantila 2010) är, att ett liknande system som påträffas i talspråket också påträffas i skriven form. h i efterstavelsen har en historisk utveckling med många förändringar och är ur ett morfologiskt och fonologiskt perspektiv ett mångfacetterat språkdrag. Studien fokuserar enbart på de sex olika lingvistiska positioner där den metatetiska varianten av h i efterstavelsen kan förekomma, vilket alltid sker i samband med en tonande konsonant exempelvis på följande sätt: 1. Stockholmhiin &gt; Stockholhmiin 'till Stockholm', 2. koulhuun &gt; kouhluun 'till skolan', 3. korjaamhaan &gt; korjaahmaan 'för att städa', 4. Pajalhaan &gt; Pajahlaan 'till Pajala', 5. istumhaan &gt;  istuhmaan 'för att sitta', 6. ymmärtänheet &gt; ymmärtähneet 'har förstått'). Tidigare forskning har ansett denna specifika variant av h med metates vara ”ett varumärke för Tornedalen” och språkdraget har visat ett tydligt mönster för variation i Tornedalen. I denna studie speglas variationen av h‑metatesen i litteraturen på meänkieli mot tidigare forskningsresultat rörande talspråk, där språkdraget undersökts både i svenska och finska Tornedalen. Bengt Pohjanen (med det största antalet utgivningar), tillsammans med tre andra författare har undersökts närmare. Ett intressant resultat är att det förekommer relativt omfattande variation mellan dessa författare, samtliga bördiga från en och samma kommun, nämligen Pajala. I motsats till vad som hävdas i traditionell sociolingvistik stämmer inte här antagandet att författarnas härkomst skulle vara en styrande faktor i författarnas språkliga val. Det allra viktigaste resultatet i studien är att enskilda böcker har under de tre undersökta decennierna visat ett överraskande resultat i fråga om variation under 1980- och 1990-talet, men under 2000-talet har det mönster som påträffats i talat språk systematiserats och tagits i bruk på ett enhetligt sätt i litteraturen på meänkieli mer eller mindre hos samtliga författare. I positionerna 1–4 sker metates systematiskt i mellan 85 – 98 % av fallen, medan den i positionerna 5–6 endast påträffas i 0,8 – 1,4 % av fallen. / This study deals with variation in written Meänkieli, focusing on the variation of one specific feature, h in non-initial syllables (e.g. saunhaan, sauhnaan 'into sauna') which has been found to be rich in variation in spoken language according to earlier research (e.g. Mantila 1992, 2010; Vaattovaara 2009). The aim of this study is to investigate if, and to what extent, the variation patterns found in the spoken variety correspond to literature written in Meänkieli. The study is motivated by the fact that Meänkieli is currently undergoing standardization process. The variation of h in non-initial syllables forms a complex system in spoken language which, as a folk belief, is “difficult to describe”. However, earlier research has indicated that in the spoken language the use of the h is linguistically quite systematically structured and the variation patterns have developed in certain direction across time. In the interest of the present study is to investigate if the pattern is similar in the written form in the chosen corpus, that is, if the individual authors are implementing a similar system in their literary work. The principal aim of this study is not to deal with language planning and principles of language standardization but to form an overall picture of linguistic variation in the use of h in written language. The data consist of 43 books from 18 authors, and from three decades (1980–2000). From each publication, the first 5250 words are extracted into analysis, if the word count exceeds this number (children’s books, 18 included in the corpus, typically do not). The main interest of the current work lies in the question whether or not there is remarkable variation found between the different authors, and what kind of variation may appear within the texts authored by each individual author or across time. The aim of the study is to reveal if the variation patterns possibly scatter, or if the patterns indicate agreement between the individual authors. According to sociolinguistic theories of linguistic change, the so called real time investigation across the decades should indicate if there is an ongoing change. The hypothesis of the research (mainly on the basis of Mantila 2010) is that the variation pattern similar to spoken language is being adopted also in written forms. Since the h in non-initial syllables is both from the point of view of historical development as well as morphological and phonological conditions a very rich feature, this study focuses only on the six linguistic environments concerning the metathetic h variant (e.g. 1. Stockholmhiin &gt; Stockholhmiin 'to Stockholm', 2. koulhuun &gt; kouhluun 'to school', 3. korjaamhaan  &gt; korjaahmaan 'to clean', 4. Pajalhaan &gt; Pajahlaan 'to Pajala', 5. istumhaan &gt;  istuhmaan ' to sit', 6. ymmärtänheet &gt; ymmärtähneet 'have understood'), which always involves a voiced consonant. Earlier research has regarded this particular variant as “the trademark of Torne Valley” which has, on the present Finnish and Swedish side of the area, shown a clear pattern of variation. In this study, the variation of the metathetic h in Meänkieli literature is mirrored against earlier findings from the Torne Valley spoken data. Bengt Pohjanen (with the largest number of publications) together with three other authors have been investigated in more detail. An interesting finding is that there is relatively much variation among authors from one municipality, Pajala. Against the traditional sociolinguistic expectations, the origins of the authors is not a governing factor in linguistic choices. The main outcome of the whole analysis is that during the three decades investigated, individual books have indicated unexpected variation in the 1980s and 1990s, but by the 2000’s the same variation pattern found in spoken language has been more systematically and strongly adopted also into written Meänkieli by more or less all of the authors: in the phonotactic positions 1–4 the metathesis is systematic (85–98 %) while in the positions 5–6 only 0,8 to 1,4 %.