The synthesis of useful chiral skeletons from simple achiral starting materials is always the dream of organic chemists. In the past decades, organocatalysis has been rapidly developed and has become one of the most important methods in asymmetric catalysis. The aim of this thesis is to develop asymmetric methods for the construction of useful chiral skeletons based on organocatalytic chemistry. Many natural products and biologically important compounds contain the hydrogenated dibenzofuran (Figure 1) as a common sub-structure. In the first part of this thesis, the first amine-catalysed asymmetric synthesis of a dihydrodibenzofuran species from bisenal substrates has been demonstrated. After a systematic screening of various reaction parameters, the optimal conditions have been found to be as follows: 0.1 M of substrate in solution with toluene with 0.2 equiv of (S)-di(2-naphthyl)pyrrolinol TMS ether (C2.8) and 0.2 equiv of 2-nitrobenzoic acid at 50 ℃ for 7 h under an argon atmosphere (Scheme 1). The first step product, an aldehyde, can be reduced in one pot to an alcohol by NaBH4. This two-step protocol gives exclusive cis selectivity. Many chiral cis-dihydrodibenzofuran species have been synthesized from the corresponding bisenal substrates in moderate to good yield with good to excellent ee (Scheme 1). The resulting cis-dihydrodibenzofuran species have promising synthetic applications. As shown in Scheme 2, the less hindered face of the newly formed C ring is more reactive and highly regioselective functionalizations of the C ring have been achieved. In the second part of this thesis, the first asymmetric aziridination of trans-α-nitroalkenes via a phase-transfer catalysis strategy has been systematically studied. The chiral phase-transfer catalysts screened are derivatives of the cinchona alkaloids. The new cinchonidine-derived phase-transfer catalyst CD17 has been found to be optimal for the aziridination (Figure 2). Addition of a small amount of water is crucial to achieve complete conversion of the reaction. Both trans-1-nitro-2-arylalkenes and trans-1-nitro-2-alkylalkenes are suitable substrates (Scheme 3). The reaction can be run on the gram-scale without significant loss of efficiency and ee. Mechanistic studies have revealed that the aziridination proceeds through an aza-Michael addition followed by an intramolecular SN 2 type three-membered ring formation (Scheme 4). / published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 195-207). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

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Rhodium-catalysed enantioselective allylation reaction of imines in the presence of chiral diene ligands has been investigated. Under the optimised conditions, cyclic imines provided homoallylic amines in high yield and excellent enantioselectivities. The reaction most likely proceeds via allylrhodium(I) intermediates, and represents the first rhodium-catalysed enantioselective nucleophilic allylation of π-electrophiles with allylboron compounds. Furthermore, the allylations display a strong preference for carbon–carbon bond formation at the more substituted terminus of the allyl fragment of the allyltrifluoroborate. To demonstrate the utility of the allylation products, representative manipulations were conducted. Enantioselective Nickel-Catalysed Michael Additions of 2-Acetylazaarenes to Nitroalkenes An enantioselective Michael addition of acylazaarenes with α-substituted β-nitroacrylates in the presence of a chiral Ni(II)–bis(oxazoline) complexes has been developed. A range of azaaryl nucleophiles were shown to react with a variety of nitroalkenes to construct highly functionalised Michael addition products which contain a stereogenic all-carbon quaternary stereocentre with moderate to high yields and enantioselectivities. A possible mechanism for this reaction has been proposed.

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Luiz Oliveira Rodrigues Cunha / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia/Química, 2015. / Organocalcogenetos sao importantes reagentes e intermediarios em sintese organica tendo especial destaque a preparacao e aplicacoes dos derivados vinilicos. Outro ambito com nascente potencial consiste no estudo de propriedades biologicas de derivados organicos contendo grupos funcionais com os atomos de Selenio ou Telurio. Os derivados hipervalentes destes compostos sao inibidores de cisteina proteases envolvidas em diversas patologias por isso sao alvos como cancer, mal de Alzheimer, e doencas causadas por parasitas (malaria, doenca de Chagas, leishmaniose, por exemplo). Para a obtencao desta classe de compostos sao descritas diversas metodologias, entretanto, alguns destes metodos requerem elevadas temperaturas e pressao, varias etapas reacionais, longos tempos reacionais, e baixos rendimentos, dificultando com isso, a sintese destes compostos. O presente estudo visa a obtencao de organocalcogenetos vinilicos derivados de acidos carboxilicos ¿¿,¿À-insaturados para o estudo de sua reatividade frente a tiois e inibicao de cisteina proteases. Embora nao tenha sido exitosa a preparacao dos derivados calcogenados, uma serie de nitro-olefinas, foi testada como inibidores de cisteina proteases e outras proteases tiol-dependentes. Os experimentos realizados permitiram a verificacao de que estes compostos sao capazes de atuarem como inibidores de cisteina proteases e de proteases cuja atividade catalitica seja dependente de tiois. / Organic chalcogenides are useful reagents and intermediates in organic synthesis with special emphasis on the applications of vinyl derivatives. Another brach of investigation lies on the study of biological properties of organochalcogenides. The study the biological properties of organic derivatives with functional groups containing selenium or tellurium atoms hypervalent derivatives of these compounds are inhibitors of cysteine proteases involved in several pathologies, therefore are targets such as cancer Alzheimer's disease bad, and diseases caused by parasites (Malaria, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, for example). For this class of compounds are described several methods, however, some of these methods require high temperatures and pressures, various reaction steps, long reaction times and low yields, makes difficult the synthesis of these compounds. This study aims to obtain organic chalcogenides vinylic derived from á, â-unsaturated carboxylic acids to the study of his face thiol reactivity and inhibiting cysteine proteases. A series of nitro-olefins or papain was tested as inhibitors of cysteine proteases using as a template. The experiments led to the discovery that these compounds are capable of being enzyme inhibitors.

Au cours de ces travaux, nous nous sommes intéressés au développement de nouvelles transformations combinant des outils modernes de la synthèse organique que sont les MBFT's (Multiple Bond-Forming Transformations) et l'organocatalyse et impliquant la réactivité des nitroalcènes. Nous avons dans un premier temps élaboré une réaction consécutive hautement stéréosélective Michael – Hétérocyclisation [3+2] – Fragmentation. Au cours de ce processus, deux liaisons C–C, une liaison C–O et un cycle sont formés afin de former des cyclopentanoximes optiquement actifs portant jusqu'à trois centres stéréogènes pouvant être convertis en hydroxylamines ou en indoles. Nous avons ensuite exploité le potentiel pro-nucléophile des composés 1,2-dicarbonylés lors de l'élaboration des premières additions de Michael organocatalysées diastéréo- et énantiosélectives de 1,2-cétoesters et de 1,2-cétoamides sur des nitrooléfines. Les adduits obtenus constituent des plateformes synthétiques vers la construction de carbo- et d'hétérocycles à cinq et six chaînons possédant une large diversité fonctionnelle. Ces travaux ont conduit au développement d'une transformation domino impliquant divers composés 1,2-dicarbonylés et nitroalcènes halogénés afin d'accéder de manière rapide et efficace à des 2-carbonyl- et 2-phosphorylfuranes dont les voies de synthèse sont peu courantes dans la littérature. Les premiers résultats très encourageants quant à l'obtention de furanes atropoisomères ouvrent les portes à une version asymétrique de cette méthodologie. / This work focused on the development of novel transformations combining MBFT's and organocatalysis, the latest powerful tools of organic synthesis, and involving the reactivity of nitroalkenes. We first developed a highly stereoselective consecutive Michael – [3+2] Heterocyclisation – Fragmentation reaction where two C–C bonds, one C–O bond and a cycle are formed to make optically active cyclopentanoximes bearing up to three stereocenters. These products can be converted into hydroxylamines or indoles. We then exploited the nucleophilic potential of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds in the design of the first organocatalyzed diastereo- and enantioselective Michael additions of 1,2-ketoamides and 1,2-ketoesters onto nitroalkenes. The corresponding adducts are valuable synthetic platforms towards the synthesis of five- and six-membered carbo- and heterocycles with wide functional variety. This work led to the development of a domino transformation involving 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds and halogenated nitroolefines to efficiently access 2-carbonyl- and 2-phosphorylfuranes whose reported synthetic pathways remain rare. The first encouraging trials carried out to make atropisomers enable a potential asymmetric version of this methodology.

This thesis entitled “Organic Transformations in Water: Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies towards Green Methodologies” is in two parts. Part-I describes various synthetic studies aimed at developing improved methodologies; Part-II describes certain mechanistic studies directed towards an improved understanding of phase transfer catalysis and the hydrophobic effect. Water is uniquely advantageous as a solvent. It is environmentally benign, non-flammable, liquid over a wide temperature range and possesses a high heat capacity that makes it inherently safe. Water also catalyses chemical transformations between insoluble organic reactants. Water thus serves as a reaction medium, a product partitioner and a reaction catalyst.1 Part-I:- Reactions in Water under both Microwave and Ambient Conditions Part-I is further divided into three chapters. Chapter II deals with reactions of 2-nitroalcohols (2NAs), and is divided into three sections. Section A describes the synthesis of nitroalkanes via the microwave-assisted, water-mediated chemoselective reduction of 2NAs using tributyltin hydride (Bu Scheme 1 ). The 2NAs, synthesized from nitromethane and aldehydes (aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic or m- & p-substituted aromatic aldehydes), were converted into corresponding nitroalkanes in excellent yields. The 2NAs derived either from substituted nitromethane [nitroethane, (nitromethyl)benzene, etc.] or bulky aldehydes (o-substituted aromatic aldehydes), however, failed to furnish nitroalkanes under these conditions. Also a major solvent effect was observed: the extent of conversion was greater in water than in water-polar 3SnH) as reducing agent. The chemoselective reduction of 2NAs to nitroalkanes was observed accidentally while trying to remove the nitro group of 2NAs in a Bu3SnH-AIBN-water system under microwave conditions. When equimolar quantities of 2NA and Bu3SnH were added to water, microwave irradiation led to nitroalkanes (protic solvent mixtures and the reaction did not occur either in aprotic polar or non-polar solvents. Scheme 1. Microwave assisted chemoselective reduction of 2NAs to nitroalkanes in Bu3SnH-water In Section B, the microwave assisted synthesis of nitroalkanes from nitroalkenes has been described. Equimolar quantities of nitroalkene and Bu Scheme 2 ). The nitroalkenes substituted even by bulky groups at C-1 & C-2 were converted into corresponding nitroalkanes. Hence the drawback of the method described in Section A was overcome by employing nitroalkenes as starting materials. 3SnH in water under microwave irradiation, led to excellent yields of corresponding nitroalkanes (Scheme 2). The nitroalkenes substituted even by bulky groups at C-1 & C-2 were converted into corresponding nitroalkanes. Hence the drawback of the method described in Section A was overcome by employing nitroalkenes as starting materials. Scheme 2. Microwave assisted reduction of nitroalkenes to nitroalkanes in Bu3SnH-water In Section C, the synthesis of nitroalkenes via dehydration of 2NAs in a K Scheme 3 ). Thus, the dehydration of 2NAs has been accomplished under relatively mild conditions. (It was observed that the 2NAs bearing bulky groups underwent the retro-Henry reaction rather than dehydration.) 2CO3-water system has been described. This conversion was accomplished at 0-5 °C in 5-30 minutes, the nitroalkenes being isolated in good yields (Scheme 3). Thus, the dehydration of 2NAs has been accomplished under relatively mild conditions. (It was observed that the 2NAs bearing bulky groups underwent the retro-Henry reaction rather than dehydration.) Scheme 3. Dehydration of 2-NAs in aqueous K2CO3 solution Chapter III describes the chemoselective reduction of ketoaldehydes. This was serendipitously discovered during attempted enantioselective reduction of prochiral ketones using amino acid-NaBH Scheme 4 ). The method provides a mild and efficient route for the chemoselective reduction of aldehydes under aqueous basic conditions. 4-Na2CO3 in water. When equimolar quantities of aldehyde and ketone were added to a solution NaBH4 in aqueous Na2CO3 at ambient temperature, the aldehydes were selectively reduced. Good yields of primary alcohols were generally observed with excellent chemoselectivities. Extension of this study to the selective reduction of ketoaldehydes under the above reaction conditions furnished ketoalcohols in > 70% yields with > 80% chemoselectivities (Scheme 4). The method provides a mild and efficient route for the chemoselective reduction of aldehydes under aqueous basic conditions. Scheme 4. Chemoselective reduction of ketoaldehydes with NaBH4-Na2CO3 in water Chapter IV deals with deprotection of various acetals, thioacetals and tetrahydropyranyl (THP) ethers in hexane under ambient conditions, by employing chloral hydrate as reagent. Chloral hydrate is a crystalline solid with pK2 When a a 9.66.stirred suspension of excess chloral hydrate in hexane was treated with the acetal, thioacetal or THP ether, the corresponding aldehyde, ketone and alcohol were obtained in good to excellent yields (stirred suspension of excess chloral hydrate in hexane was treated with the acetal, thioacetal or THP ether, the corresponding aldehyde, ketone and alcohol were obtained in good to excellent yields (stirred suspension of excess chloral hydrate in hexane was treated with the acetal, thioacetal or THP ether, the corresponding aldehyde, ketone and alcohol were obtained in good to excellent yields ( Scheme 5. Chloral hydrate catalyzed hydrolysis of acetals, thioacetals including THP ethers Part-II:- Mechanistic Studies on Phase Transfer Catalysis and The Hydrophobic Effect Part-II is in two chapters. Chapter V describes a study of the mechanism of the phase transfer catalyzed (PTC) nucleophilic reaction of cyanide ion with alkyl halides in decane ( Scheme 7 ). In the extraction mechanism proposed earlier,3 the PTC forms the mixed species, tributylhexadecylphosphonium cyanide (THPB), which is believed to be more soluble in decane than is the starting cyanide. A problem with this explanation is that the positive free energy of transfer of the cyanide ion from the aqueous to the organic phase, which is unlikely to be offset by solvation energy of the hexadecyl and butyl groups. Scheme 6. Cyanide displacement reaction of 1-chloro octane3 The present studies explore the possibility that the reaction occurs via the formation of aggregates resembling reverse micelles ( Figure 1 ). In these, the hydrocarbon residues point outwards, with the ionic species ensconced in a deeply embedded interior along with a certain number of water molecules. Thus, the ionic species are not only shielded from the organic medium, but also stabilized in a relatively polar micro-environment (largely via dipolar interactions and hydrogen bonding). It is assumed that this stabilization energy surpasses the positive free energy of transfer of cyanide ion from aqueous to the organic phase. Figure 1. Typical representation of cyanide displacement reaction in THPB-decane-water micellar pool In fact, NMR studies on the structural dynamics of THPB in solution offered evidence of aggregation. Also, a correlation between the structures of catalyst and reactant was observed in studies with various other PTC’s. Chapter VI deals with the mechanism of the Diels-Alder reaction (DAR) in water. The concept of the hydrophobic effect (HE)4 and preferential hydrogen bonding of water with the polarized transition state5 have been invoked to explain the apparent acceleration of Diels-Alder reactions in water. The present studies explore the possibility that the highly polar water microenvironment stabilizes the transition state. Semi-quantitative rate studies of DAR involving water soluble reactants indicate that the possible role of solvation and hydrogen bonding on the polarized transition state as the key factor in the rate enhancement of water mediated DAR. The DAR in the presence of a catalytic amount of water along with the organic solvent catalyzed the reaction more efficiently, as compared to the reaction in pure organic solvent. It was also observed that there was a prominent effect of traces of water on the rate in solvent-free conditions. .