Immobilisation of functional entities, such as, enzymes, onto solid supports, as a means of facilitating their removal from the surrounding environment and subsequent regeneration has been in practice for many decades. This work focuses on the immobilisation and analysis of three-walled (pendant armed), cyclen based receptor complexes immobilised onto a silica surface for the purpose of sequestering aromatic anions from aqueous solution: Si-GPS-[Cd(Trac)](ClO4)2, Si-GPS-[Cd(DiPTrac)](ClO4)2, and Si-GPS-[Cd(TriPTrac)](ClO4)2 were the immobilised receptors used. Initially, synthesis of a three-walled model receptor, [Cd(TracHP12)](ClO4)2, that is not bound to silica yet mimics the properties of the silica anchored receptor complexes with a hydroxypropyl pendant arm was effected. Aromatic anion binding constant measurements were made on the model receptor using 1H NMR monitored titrations in DMSO-d6 which showed that, in comparison to the first generation four-walled receptors, the removal of one of the pendant arms did not affect the binding capability of the receptor's cavity significantly. It was shown that the binding strength correlated well with the pKa of the particular anion with, for example, p-hydroxybenzoate > m-hydroxybenzoate > o-hydroxybenzoate. The precursor to this receptor was then immobilised onto a silica surface and subjected to metal ion uptake studies to gauge its coordination properties with a number of divalent metal(II) ions: Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Cu(II) and Ca(II). The three Cd(II) coordinated receptor complexes mentioned above were then subjected to inclusion studies with a number of aromatic anions in aqueous conditions whereupon a reversal of the previously mentioned trend, i.e. o-hydroxybenzoate > m-hydroxybenzoate > p-hydroxybenzoate was observed. This indicated that the presence of water in the system changes the hydrogen bonding mode of the host-guest complexes, and was a major discovery arising from this work.

The first section of this dissertation (Chapter I-III) describes the development of new methodologies for the rhodium catalyzed C-N bond formation between sp3 hybridized carbon atom of phenyl substituted alpha-lactams and the nitrogen atom of indole derivatives. Phenyl substituted alpha-lactams generated in situ from the corresponding alpha-bromoamides reacted with indoles in the presence of rhodium catalyst to afford the ring opening products of alpha-lactams. The scope of this methodology was extended to various types of indole derivatives including electron donating and withdrawing substituents. Furthermore, a series of functionalized phenyl substituted alpha-lactams generated in situ reacted with indole to assess the viability of this methodology. The developed method provides an atom-economical approach for the formation of substituted alpha-amino amides in good to excellent yields. The main goal of the research described in the second section (Chapter IV-VII) is the synthesis of the corannulene-based molecular receptors with polar tethers and their immobilization on silica gel. First, we have considered a preparation of bis-corannulenoanthracene, formally possessing the pentacene core as a potential precursor for a series of barrelene based bis-corannulene receptors with polar groups. Bis-corannulenoanthracene was synthesized by the double Diels-Alder cycloaddition of isocorannulenofuran with bis-benzyne precursor, followed by deoxygenation of the endoxide adducts. While bis-corannulenoanthracene is stable enough to be isolated and stored, its pentacene core undergoes facile cycloaddition with maleic anhydride to afford bis-corannulene molecular receptor with the barrelene tether adorned with the anhydride moiety. The 1H NMR titration experiments carried out in chlorobenzene-d5 proved the high binding affinity of the receptor toward C60. In addition, the presence of polar anchors on its tether allowed for its deposition on silica gel through the (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane linker.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-119).

Les hexaphyrines sont des macrocycles constitués de six unités pyrroliques, elles possèdent des propriétés physico-chimiques intéressantes, dont notamment leur capacité à exister sous deux états oxydés stables, à 26 et 28 électrons π délocalisés. Elles peuvent coordonner jusqu’à deux cations métalliques au sein du macrocycle, cependant elles souffrent d’un manque de réactivité et de prédictibilité quant à la nature des complexes formés. Pour pallier à ces problèmes, nous avons décidé de suivre une stratégie de post-modification du macrocycle, mettant en jeu l’incorporation sans précédent d’un habillage périphérique ou apical fonctionnel. Nous avons cherché à diversifier la nature de l’habillage, en travaillant dans un premier temps sur des fonctions acides carboxyliques portées par un bras, puis par une anse dans le but d’augmenter la préorganisation du système. Cette stratégie s’est montrée fructueuse et durant les études de coordination, quatre cations métalliques, le ZnII, le CdII, le PbII ainsi que le HgII ont montré des réactions de métallations instantanées et inédites à température ambiante. Dans un second temps, nous avons étudié l’influence d’un habillage tripodal sur les propriétés de coordination du macrocycle hexaphyrinique. La métallation dans des conditions spécifiques de ces nouvelles hexaphyrines, a mis en évidence la première synthèse hautement diastéréosélective d’un complexe aromatique avec une topologie en anneau de Möbius. Cette synthèse nous à servi de preuve de concept sur le développement de potentiels détecteurs chiroptiques, basés sur un changement de topologie et d’aromaticité du ligand après métallation induit par l’analyte. / Hexaphyrins are six-pyrrole member macrocycles, which possess several interesting physico-chemical properties, and specially their abilities to exist as two stable oxidation states. They also can coordinate two metallic cations, unfortunately they suffer from a lack of reactivity and from unpredictable behaviors regarding the nuclearity of the complexes. To overcome these problems, we decided to follow a macrocycle post-modification strategy, using the unprecedented peripheral dressing of the hexaphyrin. We tried to explore few functions and started working with carboxylic acid groups on a piquet and then on a strap to extend the preorganization of the coordinated function. This strategy showed good results and instantaneous metalation with four metalics cations, ZnII, CdII, PbII and HgII at room temperature. Meanwhile we studied the behavior in coordination chemistry of novel tren-capped hexaphyrin. Thus we highlight the first diastereoselective synthesis, involving the formation of complexes showing Möbius strip topology. This system was used as proof of concept for the development of potential chiroptical sensors, based on a topology switch after metalation triggered by the analyte.

Les iminosucres, analogues de sucres dans lesquels l'oxygène endocyclique a été remplacé par un atome d'azote, constitue une classe importante de mimes de sucres. Aujourd'hui, leurs applications se limitent au domaine biologique car ces composés ont montré un potentiel thérapeutique prometteur. Il serait intéressant d'élargir le domaine d'application de ces iminosucres, et la combinaison de ces structures présentant un azote endocyclique pourrait conduire à de nouveaux macrocycles inédits présentant des propriétés de chélation innovantes. Pour cela, l'introduction d'une chaîne alkyle en position pseudoanomérique donne accès à une nouvelle classe de composés, les iminosucres C-glycosides dont la fonctionnalisation en positions C-5 et C-1 est nécessaire.La première partie de ce travail se focalise sur le développement d'une voie de synthèse rapide et efficace d'iminosucres C-glycosides à six et sept chaînons au moyen d'une réaction tandem de Staudinger aza-Wittig. Pour accéder à ces composés de choix, notre stratégie se base sur des réactions de fonctionnalisation diastéréosélectives et stéréocontrollées. La seconde partie de cette thèse a été consacrée à la synthèse d'iminosucres aza-couronnes, dont les structures constituent un nouveau type de récepteurs moléculaires. L'étude des propriétés de chélation de ces nouveaux macrocycles des cations métalliques a montré des premiers résultats prometteurs et encourageants grâce à des analyses par RMN et par fluorimétrie. / Iminosugars, sugar analogs in which the endocyclic oxygen has been replaced by nitrogen, constitute a major class of sugar mimetics. Their application has been limited to the biological field so far as these compounds have shown promising therapeutic properties[1]. Interestingly, their structural analogy with sugars combined with the presence of an endocyclic nitrogen atom could deliver innovative macrocycles that could display chelation properties as well as catalytic potential when bound to metals and associated as duplex or higher multiplicity scaffolds. For this purpose, efficient introduction of an alkyl chain at the pseudoanomeric position of the iminosugar to yield an iminosugar C-glycoside[2] displaying two arms at C-5 and C-1 position is necessary. The first part of this work focused on the development of an efficient and convergent synthesis of seven and six membered iminosugars C-glycosides using a highly diastereoselective tandem Staudinger-Aza-Wittig reaction is presented. To access to these new compounds, our strategy is based on a highly diastereoselective and stereocontrolled functionalization. The second part of this work is based on the use of these structures to build up unprecedented iminosugar-aza-crowns, a new type of molecular receptors, using the strategy way developed in the first part. These news sweet aza-crowns displaying with various linkages showed promising results through their preliminary chelation properties by NMR and fluorimetric techniques.