<p>This thesis concerns the study of reaction mechanisms by means of kinetic isotope effects (KIEs). Studies of the nucleophilic bimolecular substitution (S_N2) reaction had the dual purpose of improving our fundamental understanding of molecular reactivity and assessing the ability of kinetic isotope effects to serve as mechanistic tools. The transition state of the S_N2 reaction between a cyanide ion and ethyl chloride in tetrahydrofuran was found to be reactant like and only slightly tighter than has been found previously for the same reaction in dimethyl sulphoxide. One conclusion was that the transition-state structure in this reaction was predicted fairly well by the theoretical calculations, even without solvent modelling. The S_N2 reactions between cyanide ions and <i>para</i>-substituted benzyl chlorides were found to have reactant-like transition states, of which the C_α-Cl bond was most influenced by the <i>para</i>-substitution. Theoretical calculations indicated that the chlorine KIEs could be used as probes of the substituent effect on the C_α-Cl bond if bond fission was not too advanced in the transition state. Furthermore, the nucleophile carbon ¹¹C/¹⁴C KIEs were determined for the reactions between cyanide ions and various ethyl substrates in dimethyl sulphoxide.</p><p>Precision conductometry was employed to estimate the aggregation status of tetrabutylammonium cyanide in tetrahydrofuran and in dimethyl sulphoxide, which is of interest as tetrabutylammonium cyanide is frequently used as the nucleophilic reagent in mechanistic investigations and synthetic reactions. The tendency for ion-pair formation was found to be very slight, significant, and very strong in dimethyl sulphoxide, water, and tetrahydrofuran, respectively. </p><p>The nitrogen kinetic isotope effect on monoamine oxidase B catalysed deamination of benzylamine was determined in an attempt to obtain conclusive evidence regarding the mechanism of the oxidation. Monoamine oxidase is an important drug target in connection with the treatment of, for example, depression and Parkinson’s disease, and knowledge on how the enzyme effects catalysis would facilitate the design of highly selective and efficient inhibitors.</p>

This thesis concerns the study of reaction mechanisms by means of kinetic isotope effects (KIEs). Studies of the nucleophilic bimolecular substitution (SN2) reaction had the dual purpose of improving our fundamental understanding of molecular reactivity and assessing the ability of kinetic isotope effects to serve as mechanistic tools. The transition state of the SN2 reaction between a cyanide ion and ethyl chloride in tetrahydrofuran was found to be reactant like and only slightly tighter than has been found previously for the same reaction in dimethyl sulphoxide. One conclusion was that the transition-state structure in this reaction was predicted fairly well by the theoretical calculations, even without solvent modelling. The SN2 reactions between cyanide ions and para-substituted benzyl chlorides were found to have reactant-like transition states, of which the Cα-Cl bond was most influenced by the para-substitution. Theoretical calculations indicated that the chlorine KIEs could be used as probes of the substituent effect on the Cα-Cl bond if bond fission was not too advanced in the transition state. Furthermore, the nucleophile carbon 11C/14C KIEs were determined for the reactions between cyanide ions and various ethyl substrates in dimethyl sulphoxide. Precision conductometry was employed to estimate the aggregation status of tetrabutylammonium cyanide in tetrahydrofuran and in dimethyl sulphoxide, which is of interest as tetrabutylammonium cyanide is frequently used as the nucleophilic reagent in mechanistic investigations and synthetic reactions. The tendency for ion-pair formation was found to be very slight, significant, and very strong in dimethyl sulphoxide, water, and tetrahydrofuran, respectively. The nitrogen kinetic isotope effect on monoamine oxidase B catalysed deamination of benzylamine was determined in an attempt to obtain conclusive evidence regarding the mechanism of the oxidation. Monoamine oxidase is an important drug target in connection with the treatment of, for example, depression and Parkinson’s disease, and knowledge on how the enzyme effects catalysis would facilitate the design of highly selective and efficient inhibitors.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Untersuchung von a-Azidoalkoholen, welche über die Reaktion von aliphatischen sowie aromatischen Aldehyden mit HN3 leicht zugänglich sind und die im Gleichgewicht mit den jeweiligen Ausgangsstoffen vorliegen. Bei Raumtemperatur stellt sich dieses Gleichgewicht sehr schnell ein und man erhält spezifische Konzentrationen an Eduktaldehyd, Stickstoffwasserstoffsäure und a-Azidoalkohol. Die Reaktion von Aldehyden mit HN3 generiert dabei ein neues Chriralitätszentrum, wodurch die Umsetzung chiraler Aldehyde, wie z. B. von Zuckerderivaten, zwei anomere Produkte hervorbringt. Die erstmalig erfolgreichen Synthesen zur Erzeugung von 4-Brom-4-methylpentanal sowie 4-Azido-4-methylpentanal werden ebenfalls beschrieben. Letztere Verbindung reagiert dabei ebenso wenig via einer intramolekularen 1,3-dipolaren Cycloaddition zum entsprechenden 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3,4-oxatriazol-Derivat wie das analoge-Azidobutanal, was im Gegensatz zu Literaturangaben steht. Des Weiteren werden einige interessante Reaktionen der a-Azidoalkohole untersucht. Die Oxidation mit Pyridiniumchlorochromat (PCC) bei –60°C führt zu Carbonylaziden. Die Photolyse bei –50°C generiert unter Stickstofffreisetzung Nitrene, welche mittels Wasserstoffwanderung und anschließender Tautomerisierung des resultierenden Intermediats zu Säureamiden umlagern. Die ebenfalls mögliche 1,2-Wanderung einer Gruppe R in a-Position führt dabei zu einem Intermediat, aus welchem sofort das entsprechende Formamid-Derivat entsteht. a-Azidoalkohole reagieren mit PBr3 in einer sauberen Reaktion durch die Substitution der Hydroxylfunktion unter Bildung der jeweiligen 1-Azido-1-brom-Verbindung. / In this work, α-azido alcohols which exist in equilibrium with the starting materials have been studied by the reactions of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes with HN3. In some cases the title compounds can be isolated from the mixture at low temperature. At room temperature, however, the equilibrium is fast and there are again specific concentrations of the aldehyde, hydrazoic acid, and the α-azido alcohol. The reaction of aldehydes with HN3 creates a new chiral center and a chiral aldehyde, e.g. sugar derivatives, produces two anomeric products. The first procedures to prepare 4-bromo-4-methylpentanal and 4-azido-4-methylpentanal are also reported. The latter compound and also the parent 4-azidobutanal do not lead to 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3,4-oxatriazoles by intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, although it was claimed in the literature. Furthermore, some interesting reactions of the α-azido alcohols have been investigated. The oxidation of α-azido alcohols with pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) at −60 °C leads to formation of carbonyl azides. The photolysis of α-azido alcohols at −50 °C generates nitrenes with liberation of dinitrogen, which lead to the formation of acid amides after the migration of hydrogen and subsequent tautomerism of the intermediate. 1,2-Migration of a group R in the α-position can produce an intermediate stage which is rapidly converted into formamide derivative. α-Azido alcohols react with PBr3 to give 1-azido-1-bromo derivatives in a clean reaction by substitution of hydroxyl group at the α-position.

Although α-keto carbocations have been demonstrated to be viable intermediates in solvolysis reactions, their applications in synthesis are scarce. These species can be considered to be equivalent to “reversed polarity” enolates and, as such, could be useful for the asymmetric formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. In principle, facial selectivity in additions to α-keto carbocations may be induced using easily removed ester, amide, or imide chiral auxiliaries. Efforts to achieve such diastereoselective SN1 reactions of α-keto carbocations are described herein.

Although α-keto carbocations have been demonstrated to be viable intermediates in solvolysis reactions, their applications in synthesis are scarce. These species can be considered to be equivalent to “reversed polarity” enolates and, as such, could be useful for the asymmetric formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. In principle, facial selectivity in additions to α-keto carbocations may be induced using easily removed ester, amide, or imide chiral auxiliaries. Efforts to achieve such diastereoselective SN1 reactions of α-keto carbocations are described herein.

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

Depuis quelques années, l’élaboration de molécules spiraniques connait un essor considérable avec, en particulier, comme but essentiel l’accroissement de la diversité moléculaire considérée à ce jour comme insuffisamment développée. L’objectif de cette thèse de doctorat a été la synthèse de nouvelles entités tricycliques arylaliphatiques possédant un carbone spiranique et ce, en complément des travaux antérieurement effectués au laboratoire. Dans un premier temps, nous avons choisi de générer des molécules regroupant des structures de type indane-1,2’-(azétidine, pyrrolidine et pipéridine). La possibilité de fixer par exemple un groupe fonctionnel tel qu’un amide ou un bras espaceur voire de substituer le noyau aromatique nous a permis d’exploiter les différentes directions de l’espace. Dans un second temps, nous avons développé une réaction d’arylation intramoléculaire en position α de groupements électroattracteurs. Cette arylation catalysée par des métaux (dans notre cas le cuivre) permet d’accéder à des composés aux motifs spiroindane- ou spirotétraline-1,3’-(azétidine, pyrrolidine et pipéridine). Dans un troisième temps, nous avons étudié les réactions d’addition nucléophiles intramoléculaires de pyridines N-activées pour accéder à des structures spirocycliques pyridiniques fonctionnalisées. Des essais préliminaires utilisant de l’anhydride acétique comme agent activant nous ont permis de générer les intermédiaires recherchés. Afin d’accroître la diversité moléculaire et découvrir de nouveaux fragments susceptibles de nous mener à des agents thérapeutiques, nous nous sommes intéressé, dans un dernier temps, au domaine des biotechnologies blanches en exploitant le potentiel des micro-organismes et de leurs enzymes pour fonctionnaliser des liaisons C-H non activées présentes au sein de charpentes spirocycliques préalablement préparées. / In recent years, the elaboration of spirocyclic molecules has arisen, particularly with an essential purpose to increase of molecular diversity which is not sufficiently developed to date. The objective of this work was the synthesis of new arylaliphatic tricyclic entities with spiranic carbon and it in addition to previous work in the laboratory. Firstly, we have chosen to generate molecules having indane-1,2’-(azetidine, pyrrolidine and piperidine) moiety. The possibility of incorporating a functional group such as an amide, a spacer group or even a substituent on the aromatic ring has allowed us to exploit all space directions. Secondly, we have developed an intramolecular arylation in α position of the electroattractive groups. This metal catalyzed arylation, (in this case copper) provides access to compounds with spiroindane or spirotetraline-1,3’-(azetidine, pyrrolidine and piperidine) patterns. Thirdly, we have studied the intramolecular nucleophilic addition of N-activated pyridine to accede to spirocyclic functionalized pyridine structures. Preliminary tests using acetic anhydride as the activating agent allowed us to generate some desired intermediates. Last but not least, in an effort to increase the molecular diversity and the discovery of new fragments that could lead us to therapeutic agents, we were interested in the field of white biotechnology by harnessing the potential of microorganisms and their enzymes to functionalize in activated C-H bonds in previously prepared spirocyclic scaffolds.

Cette thèse comporte deux parties indépendantes. La première étude présente les premiers exemples de métallation de la structure azobenzène par les réactifs organométalliques polaires. Largement utilisés en tant que colorants, les azobenzènes trouvent actuellement de nombreuses applications dans le domaine des matériaux en raison de leur facile photoisomerisation E/Z. Il est montré que les bases organométalliques polaires classiques (n-BuLi, n-BuLi/TMEDA, n-BuLi/t-BuOK, TMPMgCl.LiCl, LDA) ne métallent pas l’azobenzène parent mais réduisent plutôt la liaison N=N. Cependant la métallation est possible avec le tétraméthylpipéridure de lithium si un groupement directeur de métallation tel que le méthoxy (OMe), diéthylamide (CONEt2) ou fluoro (F) est présent sur l’azobenzène. La réaction permet un accès original et direct à de nouveaux azobenzènes substitués. L’objectif de la deuxième partie est la synthèse de dérivés biaryliques chiraux en l’absence de métaux de transition (Pd, Ni…). Les biaryles chiraux sont présents dans de nombreuses molécules biologiquement actives et peuvent être utilisés comme ligands pour la catalyse asymétrique. La substitution nucléophile aromatique des acides naphtoïques en présence de ligands chiraux a été étudiée. Une optimisation fine des conditions réactionnelles (choix du solvant, température, structure du ligand…) a permis de préparer des 1,1’-binaphtalènes, 1,2’-binaphtalènes et phénylnaphtalènes avec de bons rendements et excès énantiomériques (jusqu’à 89% ee). La substitution nucléophile aromatique atroposélective de dérivés d’acides naphtoïques de type naphtyloxazolines et naphtoates est également décrite. / This thesis is divided into two independant parts. The first part describes for the first time the chemoselective lithiation of azobenzenes. Azobenzenes derivatives are widely used as dyes and more recently have been applied to the preparation of photoresponsive molecular switches and materials by taking advantage of the N=N bond E/Z photoisomerization. Whereas standard polar organometallics (n-BuLi, n-BuLi/TMEDA, n-BuLi/t-BuOK, TMPMgCl.LiCl, LDA) reduce the N=N bond of the parent compound, aromatic HLi permutation occurs with LTMP when a suitable director of lithiation (OMe, CONEt2, F) is present in the benzene residue of the azo compound. The method allows a direct access to new substituted azobenzenes.Axially chiral biaryls, which are found in many biologically active natural products, are conventionally used as ligands for asymmetric catalysis. The purpose of the second part is to develop a new method for the preparation of axially chiral biaryls in the absence of transition metals (Pd, Ni…). To tackle that goal, nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions on unprotected naphthoic acids were performed in the presence of chiral ligands. A careful optimization of the reaction parameters (choice of the solvent, temperature, structure of the ligand…) allowed to prepare chiral 1,1’- binaphthalenes 1,2’- binaphthalenes and phenylnaphthalenes in good yields and enantiomeric excesses (up to 89% ee). The atroposelective SNAr reaction of naphthyloxazoline and naphthoate derivatives was also reported.

Les N-tert-butanesulfinamides, des auxiliaires chiraux développés par Ellman il y a une vingtaine d’années, sont à l’heure actuelle de plus en plus sollicités pour la préparation d’amines chirales fonctionnalisées, et ce, du fait de la disponibilité des deux énantiomères à faible coût et de leurs conditions de déprotection faciles à mettre en œuvre. Cependant, leur utilisation dans le cadre de la synthèse de dérivés trifluorométhylés quaternaires à partir des N-tert-butanesulfinylalkyl- ou arylcétimines correspondantes, connues pour leur faible hydrostabilité, reste à ce jour très limitée. Les éthers d’hémiaminals trifluorométhylés dérivés de l’auxiliaire d’Ellman constituent des analogues stables de ces cétimines. Ils permettent de générer in situ la cétimine correspondante, qui peut subir l’addition de l’espèce nucléophile présente. Ce manuscrit relate les différentes réactions étudiées sur ces éthers d’hémiaminals, donnant ainsi accès à des synthons azotés α-trifluorométhylés quaternaires de façon énantiopure : d’une part, les amines homoallyliques obtenues par l’addition d’allylalanes, qui, après quelques étapes, permettent de fournir les azétidines trifluorométhylées correspondantes, et d’autre part, les β3,3-aminoacides trifluorométhylés, préparés via une réaction de Reformatsky hautement diastéréosélective. Les acides β-aminés ainsi préparés ont été réinvestis dans des couplages peptidiques en solution pour la préparation d’une gamme d’α/β- et de β-di- et tripeptides, sur lesquels des études conformationnelles préliminaires ont été menées à l’état solide et/ou en solution.Mots-clés : Auxiliaire d’Ellman, Addition nucléophile, Couplage peptidique en solution, Dérivé azoté α-trifluorométhylé, Éther d’hémiaminal, Synthèse asymétrique. / Chiral N-tert-butansulfinamides, developped by Ellman 20 years ago, have been increasingly applied for the preparation of chiral functionnalized amines, because of the affordability of both enantiomers and of their mild conditions of cleavage. However, the use of theses auxiliaries for the synthesis of quaternary trifluoromethyl derivatives remains quite limited, the corresponding trifluoromethyl ketoimines being highly unstable.Chiral N-tert-butanesulfinyl alkyl(aryl) trifluoromethyl hemiaminal ethers have been developped to be used as bench-stable surrogates of these ketoimines : once under reaction conditions, they afford the corresponding ketoimine in situ, which can be subject to a nucleophilic addition.In this manuscript, different reactions led on these hemiaminal ethers are described, affording valuable and optically pure trifluoromethylated quaternary building-blocks : on the one hand, homoallylic amines, obtained by the addition of allylalane species, and which can afford, after a few steps, teh corresponding trifluoromethyl azetidines, and on the other hand, chiral trifluoromethyl β3,3-amino acids, afforded by a highly diastereoselective Reformatsky reaction.These β 3,3-amino acids have been then involved in solution-phase peptide couplings in order to synthetise a wide range of α/β- and β-di- and tripeptides, whose conformation have been the object of preliminary studies in the solid state and/or in solution.Key-words : Ellman auxiliary, Nucleophilic addition, Solution-phase peptide coupling, α-trifluoromethylated nitrogen derivative, Hemiaminal ether, asymmetric synthesis.

Les travaux de thèse présentés dans ce mémoire ont ciblé trois familles de molécules π-conjuguées et s’inscrivent plus particulièrement dans le développement de la chimie des amino-azacalixarènes et des dérivés de phénazine, et d’une nouvelle classe de tétraazamacrocycles aromatiques appelés « azacalixphyrine ». Ces composés étant émergents dans la littérature, nous avons volontairement porté nos efforts sur la synthèse et la compréhension de ces nouveaux systèmes π-conjugués afin d’élaborer de nouvelles voies de synthèse mais aussi, le cas échéant, d’établir des relations structure / propriétés. L’accès synthétique à ces composés est basé sur des réactions de substitutions nucléophiles aromatiques. De nouveaux outils moléculaires sont ainsi proposés pour différentes applications dans le domaine de l’énergie, des matériaux et/ou de la santé. / The thesis work deals with three families of π-conjugated molecules and particularly focuses on amino-azacalixarenes and phenazine derivatives as well as a new class of aromatic tetraazamacrocycles named “azacalixphyrin”. Since these compounds are emerging in the literature, we have deliberately focused our efforts on their synthesis and on the physico-chemical studies of these new π-conjugated systems in order to, when it is appropriate, establish structure / properties relationships. The synthetic accesses to these compounds are mainly based on aromatic nucleophilic substitutions. All these derivatives are potentially new molecular tools for various applications in the fields of energy, materials and medicines.