Thesis advisor: Amir H. Hoveyda / Chapter 1. The first examples of highly Z- and enantioselective ring-opening/cross-metathesis reactions are disclosed. Transformations involve meso cyclic olefin substrate and styrenes or enol ethers as olefin cross partners. A stereogenic-at-Mo monoaryloxide monopyrrolide (MAP) complex, prepared and used in situ, is discovered for the efficient formation of Z olefins. Such complex, bearing a relatively smaller adamantylimido and a larger chiral aryloxide ligand, leads to kinetic Z-selectivity due to the size differential. In most cases, the resulting disubstituted Z olefins are formed with excellent stereoselectivity (>95% Z). Chapter 2. The protocols for efficient Z-selective formation of macrocyclic disubstituted alkenes through catalytic ring-closing metathesis (RCM) is described. Stereoselective cyclizations are performed with either Mo- or W-based monoaryloxide monopyrrolide (MAP) complex at 22 oC. Synthetic utility of such broadly applicable transformation is demonstrated by synthesis of several macrocyclic natural products: relatively simpler molecules such as epilachnene (91% Z) and ambrettolide (91% Z), as well as advanced precursors to epothilones C and A (97% Z) and nakadomarin A (94% Z). Several principles of catalytic stereoselective olefin metathesis reactions are summarized based on the studies: 1) Mo-based catalysts are capable of delivering high activity but can be more prone to post-RCM isomerization. 2) W-based catalysts, though furnish lower activity, are less likely to cause the loss of kinetic Z selectivity by isomerization. 3) Reaction time is critical for retaining the stereoselectivity gained from kinetic, which not only applicable with MAP complexes but potentially with other complexes as well. 4) By using W-based catalyst, polycyclic alkenes can be accessed with sequential RCM reactions, without significant erosion of the existing Z olefins in the molecule. Chapter 3. An enantioselective total synthesis of anti-proliferative agent (+)-neopeltolide is presented. The total synthesis is accomplished in 11 steps for the longest linear sequence and 28 steps in total, including 8 catalytic reactions. Particularly, several Mo- or Ru-catalyzed stereoselective olefin metathesis reactions as well as N-hetereocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed enantioselective boron conjugate addition to an acyclic enoate have proven to be effective for convergent construction of the molecule. The most important novelty of the study incorporates the explorations of feasibility of Z-selective cross-metathesis reactions to solve the challenge of installing two Z olefins with excellent selectivity. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Thesis advisor: Amir H. Hoveyda / In the course of a total synthesis of quebrachamine, we were faced with a late-stage enantioselective ring-closing metathesis that could not be promoted by any of the state-of-the-art chiral metathesis catalysts. To overcome this deficiency, we designed and developed a new class of catalysts based on mechanistic and theoretical principles. The new catalysts contain a stereogenic metal center and display unprecedented levels of reactivity and selectivity in enantioselective olefin metathesis, enabling us to complete our planned synthesis of quebrachamine. We have also discovered that non-productive metathesis reactions with stereogenic-at-Mo catalysts, generated and used in situ as a mixture of diastereomers, are crucial to the efficiency and enantioselectivity of the ring-closing metathesis reactions. Specifically, our studies have indicated that the two diastereomers of catalyst are in rapid equilibrium due to non-productive metathesis with ethylene, generated as the desired ring-closing reaction proceeds, thereby establishing a reaction manifold that is under Curtin-Hammett control. Finally, in our efforts to prepare air-stable precursors to stereogenic-at-Mo olefin metathesis catalysts, we have examined the addition of N,N-chelating ligands to Mo bis-pyrrolide complexes. Upon addition of 2,2′-bipyridyl to bis-dimethylpyrrolide Mo complexes, rather than the expected octahedral chelate, a five-coordinate monopyrrolide alkylidyne complex is generated. The complex displays good air-stability and efficiently serves as a precursor to stereogenic-at-Mo alkylidene catalysts; several alkylidyne complexes have been prepared. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Thesis advisor: Amir H. Hoveyda / Chapter 1: Efficient Z-Selective Cross-Metathesis of Secondary Allylic Ethers Efficient Z-selective cross-metathesis of secondary allylic ethers were catalyzed by monoaryloxide monopyrrolide molybdenum complexes. Reactions involving both silyl and benzyl protected ethers were demonstrated, as well as ethers containing alkyl, aryl and alkynyl substituents. Mechanistic studies were performed, and the reactions were applied to the total synthesis of several ene-diyne natural products. Chapter 2. Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Disorazole C1 The stereoselective total synthesis of disorazole C1 is reported. The synthesis was completed in 12 longest linear steps. Our synthesis demonstrates the utility of Z-selective cross-metathesis to form both alkenyl borons and alkenyl halides. Another key transformation was a one-pot Suzuki-dimerization reaction to form a symmetric 30 membered ring in relatively high yield. Chapter 3. Stereoselective Cross-Metathesis to Form Trisubstituted Alkenes Initial studies into the stereoselective formation of trisubstituted olefins through molybdenum catalyzed cross-metathesis have been performed. Our mechanistic understanding of the reaction lead us to focus on the synthesis of alkenyl halides, which can be obtained in up 90% yield and 75:25 E:Z selectivity. Chapter 4: Ring-Closing Metathesis in the Synthesis of Natural Products Development of highly efficient and selective ring-closing metathesis reactions have enabled collaborators to successfully implement routes in total synthesis endeavors. A diastereoselective seven-membered ring-closing metathesis enabled the successful synthesis of (±)-tetrapetalone A methyl-aglycon. An enantioselective ring-closing metathesis to form a six membered ring has provided access to enantioenriched aspidosperma alkaloids. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Os complexos do tipo [RuCl2(PPh3)2amina], amina = pip (1) ou pep (2), foram estudados como iniciadores catalíticos para reações de ROMP de NBE, NBD e oxaNBE-OMe e na ROMCP de NBE com NBD e oxaNBE-OMe com NBE. O complexo [RuCl2(PPh3)(pep)(isn)] (3) foi estudado na ROMP de NBE e NBD. Os complexos 2 e 3 são inéditos e suas caracterizações são discutidas e correlacionadas com o complexo com 1. As reações de catálises foram realizadas com variações de tempo, volume de solvente e temperatura, em atmosfera de Ar ou ar e na presença de EDA. <br />O rendimento foi quantitativo na ROMP de NBE com o complexo 1 em 2 mL de CHCl3, por 5 min a 25 &deg;C em Ar, com IPD de 1,9 e Mw na ordem de 106 g mol-1. Com o complexo 2, os rendimentos foram quantitativos (IPD ~ 3 e Mw na ordem de 104 g mol-1) e independentes do tempo (5 -120 min) e volume de solvente (2 - 8 mL). Com 3, os rendimentos diminuíram com o aumento do volume de solvente, mas com IPD ~ 2 e Mw na ordem de 104 g mol-1. Em todos os casos os rendimentos diminuíram em atmosfera de ar e com polímeros polimodais. <br />Rendimentos quantitativos de poliNBD foram obtidos com 1 a 40 &deg;C e com 2 a 25 &deg;C na faixa de volume de solvente estudada, por 60 e 120 min, em Ar. Os rendimentos com 3 foram inferiores a 35%. Foram também obtidos rendimentos quantitativos em atmosfera de ar em certas combinações de tempo e volume de solvente, indicando que os complexos são robustos para atividades em soluções contendo O2. Todos os polímeros de NBD foram insolúveis. <br />Obteve-se até 70% de poli(NBE-co-NBD) isolado a partir de reações com 1 e reações quantitativas com 2, dependendo da fração molar NBE:NBD usada, indicando as razões de reatividades do complexos. <br />A ROMP de oxaNBE-OMe com 1 ou com 2 formou 15 a 30% de rendimento, a 40 &deg;C por 24 h em Ar. Na ROMCP desse monômero com NBE obteve-se de 5 a 30% de rendimento, dependendo da fração molar. Os rendimentos são maiores nas frações molares com maior quantidade de NBE. Poli(oxaNBE-OMe) foi solúvel, enquanto que seus copolímeros foram pouco solúveis. <br />São realizadas discussões quantos às características eletrônicas e de impedimentos estéricos nos complexos estudados nas polimerizações via metátese, selecionando-se os ligantes ancilares frente às condições de reações para obtenções de bons rendimentos e características dos polímeros isolados. / The complexes of type [RuCl2(PPh3)2amina], amine = pip (1) or pep (2), were studied as catalytic initiators for ROMP of NBE, NBD and oxaNBE-OMe and for ROMCP of NBE with NBD and oxaNBE-OMe with NBE. The complex [RuCl2(PPh3)(pep)(isn)] (3) was studied for ROMP of NBE and NBD. The complexes 2 and 3 are novels and their characterizations are discussed and correlated with the complex 1. The catalysis reactions were performed with variations of time, volume of solvent and temperature, either in Ar or air atmosphere, in the presence of EDA. <br />The yield was quantitative for ROMP of NBE with complex 1 in 2 mL of CHCl3 for 5 min at 25 &deg;C in Ar, with PDI of 1.9 and Mw in the order of 106 g mol-1. With the complex 2, the yields were quantitatives (PDI ~ 3 and Mw in the order of 104 g mol-1) and independent of time (5 - 120 min) and volume of solvent (2 - 8 mL). With 3, the yields decreased when increasing the volume of solvent, but with PDI ~ 2 and Mw in the order of 104 g mol-1. In all the cases, the yields decreased in air atmosphere with polymodal polymers. <br />Quantitative yields of poliNBD were obtained with 1 at 40 &deg;C and with 2 at 25 &deg;C in the range of the studied volume of solvent, for 60 and 120 min, in Ar. The yields with 3 were less than 35%. Quantitative yields were also obtained in air atmosphere in some combinations of time and volume of solvent, indicating that the complexes are robust for activities in solutions containing O2. All polyNBD were insoluble. <br />It was obtained up to 70% of poly(NBE-co-NBD) isolated from reactions with 1 and quantitative reactions were obtained with 2, depending on the NBE:NBD molar fraction used, indicating the reactivity ratios for the complexes. <br />The ROMP of oxaNBE-OMe with 1 or with 2 yielded 15 to 30% at 40 &deg;C for 24h in Ar. In the ROMCP of this monomer with NBE, it was obtained from 5 to 30% yield, depending on the molar fraction. Yields are higher in molar fractions with higher amount of NBE. Poly(oxaNBE-OMe) was soluble, while its copolymers were poorly soluble. <br />Discussions are held on the electronic characteristics and steric hindrances in the studied complexes for the metathesis polymerization, selecting the ancillary ligands as a function of the reaction conditions to obtain good yields and to improve the characteristics of the isolated polymers.

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 make them ideal targets for developing and testing new synthetic strategies for efficient articulation of carbocyclic frameworks. The thesis entitled “Total synthesis of sesquiterpenes acorenols, chamigrenes, and laurokamurene B; and Enantiospecific synthesis of ABC-ring system of A-nor and abeo pentacyclic triterpenes” describes the studies directed towards the total synthesis of the sesquiterpenes mentioned in the title and exploratory studies towards triterpenoids. In each chapter of the thesis, the compounds are sequentially numbered (bold) and references are marked sequentially as superscripts and listed at the end of the chapter. All the spectra included in the thesis were obtained by xeroxing the original NMR spectra. The sesquiterpenes acorenols, containing an interesting spiro[4.5]decane carbon framework, was first isolated in 1970 by the research group of Tomita from the wood of Juniperus rigida. Recently, in 2003, Braun and coworkers reported the isolation of epi α- and epi β-acorenols along with α- and β-acorenols from the sandal wood oil Santalum spicatum. Total synthesis of all the four acorenols has been described in the first part of the first chapter of the thesis. Initially, a model study has been carried out for the spirocyclopentannulation of cyclohexanone employing a combination of Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement and ring closing metathesis reaction to furnish methyl 4-methylspiro[4.5]dec-3-en-1-carboxylate. The same methodology has been extended for the total synthesis of all the four acorenols starting from cyclohexane-1,4-dione via cis and trans isomers of methyl 4-methyl-8-methylene-spiro[4.5]dec-3-ene-1-carboxylate. Total synthesis of β-chamigrene, γ-chamigrene and laurencenone C, containing spiro[5.5]undecane carbon framework, has been described in the second part of the first chapter. As a model study, cyclohexanone has been transformed into 1,5,5-trimethylspiro-[5.5]undec-4-en-3-one employing a combination of Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement and intramolecular type-II carbonyl ene reactions. The methodology has been extended to chamigrenes starting from cyclohexane-1,4-dione via methyl 2-(1-isopropenyl-4-oxocyclo-hexyl)-2-methylpropanoate and 5,5-dimethyl-1,9-ismethylenespiro[5.5]undecan-3-ol. The marine sesquiterpenes laurokamurenes were first isolated in 2006 by Mao and Guo from Laurencia okamurai Yamada. First total synthesis of (±)-laurokamurene B has been described in the first part of the second chapter. To begin with Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement of but-2-enyl 2-methylpropionate furnished methyl 2,2,3-trimethylpent-4-enoate, which was then transformed into 4,5,5-trimethyl-3-(4-methylphenyl)hepta-1,6-dien-3-ol. RCM reaction followed by reductive deoxygeneation transformed 4,5,5-trimethyl-3-(4-methylphenyl)hepta-1,6-dien-3-ol into (±)-laurokamurene B. Subsequently, an enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-laurokamurene B has been accomplished. Stereoselective hydrogenation of methyl campholenoate furnished methyl 2-[(1S,3S)-2,2,3-trimethyl-cyclopent-1-yl]acetate, which was then transformed into (+)-laurokamurene B via degradation of the two carbon side chain and introduction of the aryl moiety, which established the absolute configuration of laurokamurenes. The third chapter deals with the enantiospecific generation of ABC-ring system of A-nor and abeo 4(3 → 2) tetra and pentacyclic triterpenes. To begin with (R)-carvone was identified as B-ring of ABC-ring system of A-nor and abeo tetra and pentacyclic triterpenes, as the absolute configuration at the C-5 position of the targets correlate to the stereo centre of carvone, and isopropenyl group can serve as the C-4 carbon of the targets along with the two gem-dimethyl groups. A lithium liquid ammonia mediated cyclisation of δ,ε-unsaturated esters was employed for the construction of the A ring and an RCM reaction was opted for the construction of the C ring. (R)-Carvone has been converted into 2-(1-ethoxyethoxy)-1,3,7,7-tetramethylbicyclo[4.3.0]non-3-en-8-ol via lithium liquid ammonia mediated cyclisation of methyl 2-(1-ethoxyethoxy)-6-isopropenyl-1,3-dimethylcyclohex-3-enyl]acetate, which was then transformed into 4-methoxymethoxy-2,5,5,9-tetramethyltricyclo[7.4.0.02,6]tridec-11-en-8-one via the RCM reaction of 3,4-bisallyl-8-methoxymethoxy-4,6,9,9-tetramethylbicyclo-[4.3.0]nonan-3-one. The strategy has been further extended to the synthesis of 4-methylene-2,5,5,9-tetramethyltricyclo[7.4.0.02,6]tridec-11-en-8-one, which contains the ABC ring system of abeo 4(3→2) tetra and pentacyclic triterpenes.

A major driving force for development of new catalyst systems is the need for more efficient synthesis of chemical compounds essential to modern life. Catalysts having superior performance offer significant environmental and economic advantages, but their discovery is not trivial. Well-defined, homogeneous catalysts can offer unparalleled understanding of ligand effects, which proves invaluable in directing redesign strategies. This thesis work focuses on the design of ruthenium complexes for applications in dinitrogen activation and olefin metathesis. The complexes developed create new directions in small-molecule activation and asymmetric catalysis by late-metal complexes. Also examined are the dual challenges, ubiquitous in catalysis, of adequate interrogation of catalyst structure and performance. Insight into both is essential to enable correlation of ligand properties with catalyst activity and/or selectivity. Improved methods for accelerated assessment of catalyst performance are described, which expand high-throughput catalyst screening to encompass parallel acquisition of kinetic data. A final aspect focuses on direct examination of metal complexes, both as isolated species, and under catalytic conditions. Applications of charge-transfer MALDI mass spectrometry to structural elucidation in organometallic chemistry is described, and the technique is employed to gain insight into catalyst decomposition pathways under operating conditions.

A major driving force for development of new catalyst systems is the need for more efficient synthesis of chemical compounds essential to modern life. Catalysts having superior performance offer significant environmental and economic advantages, but their discovery is not trivial. Well-defined, homogeneous catalysts can offer unparalleled understanding of ligand effects, which proves invaluable in directing redesign strategies. This thesis work focuses on the design of ruthenium complexes for applications in dinitrogen activation and olefin metathesis. The complexes developed create new directions in small-molecule activation and asymmetric catalysis by late-metal complexes. Also examined are the dual challenges, ubiquitous in catalysis, of adequate interrogation of catalyst structure and performance. Insight into both is essential to enable correlation of ligand properties with catalyst activity and/or selectivity. Improved methods for accelerated assessment of catalyst performance are described, which expand high-throughput catalyst screening to encompass parallel acquisition of kinetic data. A final aspect focuses on direct examination of metal complexes, both as isolated species, and under catalytic conditions. Applications of charge-transfer MALDI mass spectrometry to structural elucidation in organometallic chemistry is described, and the technique is employed to gain insight into catalyst decomposition pathways under operating conditions.

With the ever expanding utility of transition metal catalysis, there has been a thrust both to develop catalysts with unique selectivites or activites, and to understand the factors which govern these characteristics at both a fundamental and practical level. Olefin metathesis has become an essential reaction for the synthesis of small molecules in addition to polymeric materials. We have pursued two distinct ligand classes based on diaminocarbenes with novel architectures to address specific limitations within this useful class of reactions: 1) limited access to polymeric materials with controlled microstructures and 2) poor stereoselectivity in Ru-catalyzed cross-metathesis (CM) reactions. Numerous phosphines and N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been used as ligands for Ru metathesis catalysts, and the resulting activity is very sensitive to their steric and electronic nature. We envisioned that we could take advantage of this dependence by developing a catalyst with tunable ligand donicity. Redox-switchable ligands can lead to catalysts whose selectivity and/or activity are dependent upon the ligand oxidation state. Towards this purpose, we have developed a ligand which incorporates a 1,1’-disubstituted ferrocene moiety into the backbone of a diaminocarbene (FcDAC). Upon ligation of FcDAC to various transition metals, we were able to use cyclic voltammetry and a spectroelectrochemical FT-IR experiment to show electronic communication between FcDAC and the coordinated metal. We then pursued Ru metathesis catalysts incorporating these ligands. The ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 1,5-cyclooctadiene was studied using [(FcDAC)(PPh₃)Cl₂Ru=(3-phenylindenylid-2-ene)] as the catalyst. Chemical redox reactions were used to establish the ability of FcDAC to impart redox-tunable properties to Ru metathesis catalysts. A new ligand class pioneered in our group, N-aryl,N-alkyl acyclic diaminocarbenes (ADCs), was also studied in various Ru metathesis catalysts. To our delight, these catalysts showed lower E : Z ratios than analogous NHC ligands in two representative CM reactions. We also investigated the conformational diversity of these differentially substituted ADCs given their ability to rotate about their C–N bonds, in particular, to determine how this might influence their donicity. Complexes of the type [(ADC)Ir(COD)Cl] and [(ADC)Ir(CO)₂Cl] were studied, given the wealth of structural and spectral data available for analogous compounds incorporating related ligand classes. Different conformations resulted depending on the N-substituents and the nature of the metal complex. Interestingly, the electron donating ability of ADC ligands was found to depend on their conformation, as evidenced by FT-IR and cyclic voltammetry. This established a new avenue for tuning the donor properties of differentially substituted ADC ligands. The unique properties of these novel ligand classes were demonstrated in Ru metathesis catalysts. However, on a broader level, these ligands are expected to have utility in diverse catalytic applications. / text

A major driving force for development of new catalyst systems is the need for more efficient synthesis of chemical compounds essential to modern life. Catalysts having superior performance offer significant environmental and economic advantages, but their discovery is not trivial. Well-defined, homogeneous catalysts can offer unparalleled understanding of ligand effects, which proves invaluable in directing redesign strategies. This thesis work focuses on the design of ruthenium complexes for applications in dinitrogen activation and olefin metathesis. The complexes developed create new directions in small-molecule activation and asymmetric catalysis by late-metal complexes. Also examined are the dual challenges, ubiquitous in catalysis, of adequate interrogation of catalyst structure and performance. Insight into both is essential to enable correlation of ligand properties with catalyst activity and/or selectivity. Improved methods for accelerated assessment of catalyst performance are described, which expand high-throughput catalyst screening to encompass parallel acquisition of kinetic data. A final aspect focuses on direct examination of metal complexes, both as isolated species, and under catalytic conditions. Applications of charge-transfer MALDI mass spectrometry to structural elucidation in organometallic chemistry is described, and the technique is employed to gain insight into catalyst decomposition pathways under operating conditions.

Compounds containing multiple metal-carbon bonds are now widely used as catalysts for organic and materials synthesis. Among such transformations, olefin metathesis (OM) occupies a position of pre-eminent significance. Alkyne metathesis holds great promise, but remains in a much lower state of development. The OM-directed work in this thesis sought to advance the state of the art in living, Ru-catalyzed ringopening metathesis polymerizations (ROMP). Currently, the first- and third-generation Grubbs initiators, which exhibit the ease of handling characteristic of the late metal ruthenium, dominate ROMP applications. These initiators are characterized by extremes of reactivity, however. We describe the first ruthenium initiator capable of living ROMP at RT, irrespective of monomer bulk. Polydispersity indices as low as 1.03 are routinely attainable, and excellent control is maintained in synthesis of diblock copolymers from sterically demanding and sterically unencumbered monomers. Work on alkyne metathesis sought to expand existing understanding of the features that influence stability and reactivity in ruthenium carbynes. A classification system was developed in which Class A carbynes were defined as those that readily undergo conversion into an M=C entity (e.g. vinylidene, allenylidene, or alkylidene); Class B carbynes those that have a stable carbyne functionality. Four Ru carbyne complexes, all initially regarded as prospective Class B carbynes, were selected for study. Investigation of their reactivity resulted in categorization of several as Class A species, and development of design criteria that may open the door to assembly of stable, well-defined carbyne complexes of ruthenium.