Rhodium-catalysed hydroacylation provides a highly atom economic synthesis of ketone products from the combination of aldehydes and multiple bond systems by C-H bond activation. This work evaluates the combination of intermolecular hydroacylation for the synthesis of classical heterocycle precursors and their dehydrative cyclisation to give rise to a range of substituted heterocyclic compounds. Chapter 1 outlines recent developments in the chemistry of hydroacylation. Particular attention is paid to the various chelation strategies employed in intermolecular hydroacylation. Chapter 2 discusses some relevant and recent developments in the field of pyridine and pyrrole synthesis. Having established that β-sulphur chelation controlled hydroacylation can be used to synthesise pyridines in Chapter 3; attention was turned to hydroacylation of propargyl amines in Chapter 4. The methodology was expanded to provide a synthesis of γ-amino enones. The hydroacylation reaction and cyclisation is combined in a procedure that utilises thermal Boc-deprotection and cyclisation to give a range of highly-substituted pyrroles. The regioselectivity of the hydroacylation of propargyl amines is investigated in Chapter 5 by application of statistical Design of Experiments methodology. Optimised conditions were identified with minor improvements in the selectivity of the reaction.

The development of new methods for carbon-carbon bond formation is a challenging topic at the heart of organic chemistry. Over the past ten years a number of methods for the catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition of organometallic reagents such as Grignard, organozinc and organoaluminium reagents have been reported. However these reagents suffer from many limitations, including the need for cryogenic temperatures, which prevent their widespread use. Here we have developed a new asymmetric method: the copper-catalysed enantioselective 1,4-addition of alkylzirconium compounds, generated in situM/em>, from alkenes. A general introduction into the formation of carbon-carbon bonds and catalytic asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions is first given. We then focus our attention on hydrometallation reactions and their current use in the addition of alkenyl and alkyl groups in asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions. In Chapter two, we introduce the development of our methodology. We found that by using copper complex <b>(S,S,S)-A</b>, high enantioselectivities can be achieved (up to 96% ee), in the presence of a broad range of functional groups which are often not compatible with comparable methods using pre-made organometallic reagents. The method gives good enantioselectivity at room temperature, in a wide range of solvents, using readily available alkenes. Chapter three discusses the expansion of our method to the 1,4- and 1,6-addition to complex steroids. Modified conditions were then found to enable the addition to &beta;-substituted enones, to form quaternary centres. This is followed by the successful addition to &alpha;,&beta;-unsaturated lactones, another difficult substrate class. All these results gave excellent selectivity. In summary, we have developed a new reaction which offers an alternative to current methods reported in the literature. This robust reaction can tolerate a variety of functional groups and we hope that this will aid in the synthesis of important molecules.

High aerobic glycolytic capacity is correlated with poor prognosis and increased tumour aggressiveness. 6Phosphofructo-1-kinase catalyses the first irreversible step of glycolysis, and is activated by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, a product of the kinase activity of four bifunctional isoenzymes, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase (PFK-2/FBPase-2:PFKFB1-4). These are potential anti-tumour targets, but their individual and collective role requires further investigation. This thesis had three aims; to validate the PFK-2/FBPase-2 isoenzymes as anti-cancer targets, to investigate the requirement for isoenzyme-specific targeting, and to initiate assay development, enabling future identification of novel inhibitors. A panel of cancer cell lines was examined and PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 were confirmed to be the most strongly induced isoenzymes in hypoxia, regulated by HIF-1&alpha;. Basal and hypoxic relative PFKFB3/PFKFB4 expression varied markedly, and three cell lines with varying expression ratios (MCF-7, U87, PC3) were selected for further study. siRNA knockdown of each isoenzyme individually, markedly reduced 2D and 3D cell growth. The effect of PFKFB3 knockdown was consistently more pronounced, particularly in hypoxia. Double PFKFB3/PFKFB4 knockdown was significantly less effective than PFKFB3 knockdown alone. Direct antagonism of PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 on F-2,6-BP concentration was observed, with PFKFB3 exhibiting high kinase activity, as anticipated, and PFKFB4 exhibiting high bisphosphatase activity. The degree of antagonism was dependent on the relative PFKFB3/PFKFB4 expression ratio. Extensive efforts were made to examine the wider metabolic effect of PFKFB3/PFKFB4 on flux towards glycolysis or the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), including using metabolite, lipid droplet, ¹³C NMR and mass spectrometry assays. No significant change in metabolic flux was detected, the evidence presented therefore suggesting the impact of the antagonistic effects of the isoenzymes on [F-2,6-BP] extends beyond regulation of metabolic flux alone. This study concluded that the most effective therapeutic strategy will be one that involves a PFKFB3-specific inhibitor, preferably hypoxia-targeted. Accordingly, steps were taken to validate and optimise a robust medium-throughput assay system.

L’apparition de métastases est souvent le signe d’un mauvais pronostic vital pour les personnes atteintes d’un cancer. Ce processus de formation de métastase est un phénomène complexe dans lequel la migration cellulaire est un facteur clé.De récentes études ont montré que le canal SK3 (canal potassique de faible conductance dont l’activité dépend de la concentration cytosolique en calcium) était exprimé dans des cellules cancéreuses à fort pouvoir métastatique et leur conférait des capacités de migration accrues. Cette protéine constitue donc une nouvelle cible thérapeutique très intéressante pour agir sur la dissémination de cellules cancéreuses.Les objectifs de ces travaux de thèse ont permis de mettre en oeuvre deux stratégies visant à inhiber l’activité de ce canal potassique SK3.L’édelfosine, un glycérolipide à tête phosphocholine, a rapidement été reconnue comme étant un inhibiteur efficace de l’activité de ce canal. Cependant les effets secondaires induits par cette molécule ont conduit à rechercher des analogues moins toxiques et tout aussi efficaces. Des études structures-activité menées au sein du laboratoire ont permis de développer un nouveau glycérolipide à tête lactose, l’ohmline. Dans le but de compléter cette étude, nous avons réalisé la synthèse de glyco-glycérolipides et de glycophospho-glycérolipides et avons montré leur capacité à inhiber la protéine SK3 et à réduire la migration cellulaire SK3 dépendante.Une seconde stratégie vise à l’utilisation possible d’ARN interférents pour bloquer l’expression de la protéine SK3. Dans ce but, nous nous sommes intéressés à la synthèse et à l’incorporation, dans des formulations de lipides cationiques utilisés pour la transfection, de lipides neutres portant des motifs anisamides, ligands spécifiques des récepteurs sigma surexprimés dans des lignées cellulaires de tumeurs exprimant SK3. La synthèse de lipophosphoramides comportant un motif anisamide est présentée suivie de leur utilisation dans des expériences de transfection modèles (vectorisation d’ADN plasmidique) afin d’évaluer l’efficacité du ciblage engendré par le motif anisamide. / The occurrence of metastasis in a cancer is generally associated to a bad prognostic for the patient. The formation of metastasis is the result of a complex process in which cell migration plays a key role.Recent studies have shown that the potassium calcium-dependent channel SK3 is expressed in several highly metastatic cancerous cell lines and play a direct role in the migration process. Consequently, this protein is an interesting new therapeutic target to reduce metastasis formation.This PhD thesis work aimed investigating two strategies to reduce SK3 dependent cell migration.Edelfosine, a glycerolipid with a phosphocholine head, was identified as an efficient inhibitor of the SK3 channel activity. However the side effects induced by this molecule (toxicity) led to look for efficient and less toxic analogues. Accordingly, structure-activity studies carried out in our laboratory produced new glyco-glycerolipid including one with a lactose group (ohmline). With the aim of completing this study, we report the synthesis of glyco-glycerolipids and glycophospho-glycerolipids and shown their capacity to inhibit activity of SK3 channel.The second part of this work aims to act at an early stage by using RNAi to block the expression of the SK3 protein. In this way, we have synthesized and formulated, with a cationic lipid used for the transfection, neutral co-lipids functionalized with an anisamide moiety; this motif being recognize sigma receptors which are overexpressed in tumor cell lines that also expressed SK3. First, the synthesis of the lipophosphoramides with an anisamide moiety was described followed by their use in standard transfection experiments (plasmid DNA) to evaluate the effectiveness of the targeting strategy induced by the anisamide moiety.

Le but de cette thèse consistait en l’amélioration de l’activité thérapeutique d’agents anti-radicalaires synthétiques de type nitroxyde et nitrone. Ces deux classes d’antioxydants synthétiques ont été choisies pour leur très bonne activité de piégeurs de radicaux libres, des substances particulièrement délétères et impliquées à l’heure actuelle dans un grand nombre de pathologies. Dans une première partie de ce travail, des nitroxydes ont été fonctionnalisés par des transporteurs amphiphiles dérivés de la lysine et de l’acide aspartique, puis une deuxième approche a consisté en la modification d’une nitrone, l’alphaphényl-N-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN) par des groupements polaires et apolaires. Les études physico-chimiques ont ensuite permit de caractériser les propriétés d’auto-assemblage en milieux aqueux de ces composés ainsi que leur caractère hydrophobe et leurs propriétés antioxydantes. Enfin, des études biologiques ont mis en évidence les propriétés protectrices de ces molécules vis-à-vis des phénomènes de stress oxydant sur des modèles in vitro et in vivo. / The goal of this thesis was to improve the therapeutic activity of synthetic nitroxide and nitrone antioxidant agents. Free radicals are very reactive and toxic species that are associated to a large number of pathologies. In the first part of this work, nitroxides were grafted to lysine- and aspartic acid- based amphiphilic carriers. The second part, consisted inthe functionalization of the α-phenyl-N-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN) by hydrophilic and lipophilic groups. For both series of compounds the self-aggregation properties in water as well as their hydrophobic character and antioxidant properties were determined. Finally, biological studies demonstrated the protective properties of these molecules against oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo models.

De nos jours, l’élaboration d’objets de dimensions nanométriques constitue un champ de recherches particulièrement prometteur pour la conception de systèmes de petite taille. La possibilité d’exploiter ces systèmes dans des applications telles que l’électronique moléculaire ou la modification des propriétés de surface a suscité l’engouement auprès de la communauté scientifique. Cependant, afin de construire des dispositifs électroniques complexes à partir de molécules organiques, l’assemblage covalent de briques moléculaires sur une surface est primordial. Les recherches menées dans le cadre de cette thèse portent sur l’élaboration de réseaux bidimensionnels à partir de briques moléculaires déposées sur surface. La réalisation de tels réseaux consiste d’une part, en la synthèse des différents précurseurs, et par la suite, au dépôt de ces briques moléculaires sur des surfaces métalliques ou de graphite. La croissance de ces réseaux est contrôlée en variant les conditions de dépôts qui s’opèrent dans un milieu sous-vide ou liquide. Le réseau peut être construit à partir d’un même précurseur, qui réagit dès lors sur lui-même pour former le réseau. Ainsi, des réactions telles que l’auto-condensation, la polymérisation oxydative ou encore la cyclotrimérisation sont abordées. De plus, les réactions entre deux précurseurs de natures différentes sont également décrites. Après la synthèse des briques moléculaires, leur étude sur surface est détaillée dont la caractérisation de réseaux est suivie par microscopie à effet tunnel. / Nowadays, the engineering of nanometer-sized systems is a promising field for the development of little-sized systems. The possibility of extending these systems to applications such as molecular electronics or surface property tuning has attracted much attention to the scientific community. However, in order to construct complex electronic devices from organic molecules, covalent assembly of building blocks on surface is primordial. The researches carried out in this work thesis rest on the construction of two-dimensional frameworks from molecular building blocks deposited on surface. The achievement of such networks consists, first of all, in the synthesis of different precursors and afterwards, in the deposition of these molecular buildingblocks on metallic or graphite surfaces. The growth of such networks is controlled by changing deposition conditions which occurs in ultra-high vacuum or in liquid media. The framework can be built from the precursor itself, which reacts with each other to give rise to the network. Reactions such as self-condensation, oxydative polymerization or either cyclotrimerization are broached. Moreover, reactions between two different precursors are also described. After molecular building block synthesis, on-surface study is detailed which framework characterization is followed by scanning tunneling microscopy.

A presente Dissertação relata a síntese e o estudo conformacional das &#945;-fenilseleno-&#945;-dietóxifosforilacetofenonas para-substituídas p-X-&#934;-C(O)CH[Se&#934;][P(O)(OEt2] (X=OMe 1, Me 2, H 3, F 4, Cl 5, Br 6 e NO2 7) através da banda de estiramento da carbonila no infravermelho, em solventes de polaridade crescente apoiado por cálculos ab initio HF/6-3IG**. A comparação entre a freqüência e a intensidade relativa dos componentes do dubleto, para os derivados 6 e 7, e do singleto para os derivados 1-5, no solvente apolar tetracloreto de carbono, e dos componentes do dubleto, nos solventes de polaridade crescente (clorofórmio, diclorometano e acetonitrila), para os derivados 1-7, com os dados do cálculo ab initio de 3 (composto de referência), indicou que ambas as conformações estáveis (g1 e g2) apresentam a ligação C-Se na geometria anti-clinal (gauche) em relação à carbonila (C=O), enquanto que a ligação C-P assume uma geometria sin-periplanar (cis) em relação à carbonila. A análise dos contatos interatômicos de átomos relevante em comparação com a soma de seus raios de van der Waals, indicou que ambas as conformações g1 e g2 são fortemente estabilizadas pelo sinergismo das interações orbitalares e eletrostáticas &#960;*(CO) / nSe e O&#948;-[CO].....P&#948;+[PO]. Analogamente, as interações mais fracas O&#948;-[OR]..... C&#948;+[CO], 0-H&#948;+[Se&#934;]....O&#948;-[PO] e 0-H&#948;+[&#934;C(O)]....O&#948;-[CO] estabilizam as conformações g1 e g2, aproximadamente na mesma extensão. No entanto, somente a conformação g1 é estabilizada pela interação eletrostática (ligação de hidrogênio) H&#948;+[&#945;-CH].....O&#948;-[OR], enquanto que sómente a conformação g2 é desestabilizada pelo Efeito de Campo Repulsivo entre os dipolos C&#948;+=.O&#948;- e P&#948;+-OR&#948;- Assim sendo, pode-se concluir que no dubleto de VCO no IV, o componente de maior freqüência e de menor intensidade corresponde à conformação menos estável g2 (do cálculo) enquanto que o componente de menor freqüência e mais intenso corresponde à conformação mais estável g1 (do cálculo). Estes dados estão de pleno acordo com os deslocamentos de freqüência mais negativos da carbonila (&#916;VCO) do confôrmero mais estável g1 em relação ao menos estável g2. / This thesis reports the synthesis and the conformational study of some para-substituted &#945;-phenylseleno-&#945;-diethoxyphosphoryl-acetophenones p-X-&#934;-C(O)CH[Se&#934;][P(O)(OEt)2] (X=OMe 1, Me 2, H 3, F 4, Cl 5, Br 6 e NO2 7) through the analysis of the carbonyl stretching IR band, in solvents of increasing polarity, supported by ab initio HF/631G** computations of 3 (parent compound). The comparison between the frequency and the relative intensity of the doublet components for derivatives 6 and 7, and of the singlet for derivatives 1-5, in non polar solvent, carbon tetrachloride, and of the doublet components, in solvents of increasing polarity (chloroform, dichloromethane and acetonitrile), for derivatives 1-7, with the ab initio data for 3, has indicated that both stable conformations (g1 and g2 ) display the C-Se bond in an anti-clynal (gauche) geometry with respect to the carbonyl (C=O) bond, while the C-P bond assumes a syn-periplanar (cis) geometry relative to the carbonyl group. The analysis of the interatomic contacts between some relevant atoms in comparison with the sum of their van der Waals radii has shown that both g1 and g2 conformations are strongly stabilized almost to the same extension by the synergism of the &#960;*(CO) / nSe and O&#948;-[CO] .....P&#948;+[PO] orbital and electrostatic interactions. Similarly, the weaker O&#948;-[OR] ..... C&#948;+[CO], o-H&#948;+[Se&#934;] ....O&#948;-[PO] and o-H&#948;+[&#934;C(O)] ....O&#948;-[CO] interactions stabilise the referred conformations almost to the same extent. However, conformer g1 only is stabilised by the electrostatic interaction (hydrogen bond) ) H&#948;+[&#945;-CH] ....O&#948;-[OR], while the conformer g2 is the only one which is significantly destabilised through the Repulsive Field Effect which takes place between the C&#948;+=O&#948;- and P&#948;+-OR&#948;- dipoles. Therefore it may be concluded that the less intense higher vco frequency doublet component should correspond to the less stable g2 conformation, while the more intense lower VCO frequency doublet component should be related to the more stable g1 conformation. Further support for these trends are given by the larger negative carbonyl frequency shifts (&#916;VCO) for the g1 conformer relative to the g2 one, for the whole series.

Nesta tese apresentamos um estudo sistemático da reação de alquinilação de teluretos Z-vinílicos promovida por PdCl2 e CuI. O sucesso de tal reação foi dependente da quantidade de PdCl2 empregado, por outro lado, o sal de cobre (I) não apresentou influência significativa sobre o curso da reação. Posteriormente, empregando PdCl2 em quantidades catalíticas, vários agentes oxidantes ou aditivos foram testados. No entanto, o resultado mais significativo foi obtido quando CuCl2 foi usado na presença de ar. Este resultado deu origem a uma nova metodologia para a alquinilação de teluretos Z-vinílicos, que emprega PdCl2 em quantidade catalítica e CuCl2 em excesso. Adicionalmente, um mecanismo para a reação desenvolvida foi proposto com base em experimentos realizados empregando espectroscopia de massas. Tendo em vista o alto custo dos reagentes de paládio, foram implementadas metodologias para promover a formação de ligações carbono-carbono, usando teluretos vinílicos e reagentes organometálicos na presença de quantidades catalíticas de complexos de níquel (II). Na última etapa do nosso trabalho, teluretos Z-vinílicos quirais foram sintetizados usando biocatálise como ferramenta, sendo posteriormente submetidos à reação de acoplamento resultando em álcoois enínicos de configuração Z quirais. A seqüência de reações foi testada inicialmente em sua versão racêmica. / In this thesis we report a systematic study concerning the alkynylation of Z-vinylic telurides promoted by PdCl2 and CuI. The performance of such reaction was dependent of the amount of PdCl2 employed. On the other hand, the copper (I) salt did not show significant influence in the course of the reaction. Afterwards, employing PdCl2 in catalytic amounts, several oxidizing agents or additives were tested. The most significant result was obtained when CuCl2 was used in the presence of air. This finding brought to light a new methodology for alkynylation of Z-vinylic telurides that employs catalytic amount of PdCl2 and CuCl2 excess. In addition, a mechanism for the new reaction has been proposed with basis in the data obtained by mass spectrometric experiments. In view of the high cost of the palladium reagents, we developed methodologies that promote the formation of carbon-carbon bonds by using vinylic tellurides and organometallic reagents in the presence of catalytic amounts of nickel (II) complexes. In the last stage of our work, chiral Z-vinylic tellurides were synthesized by using biocatalysis as a tool. After that, the chiral tellurides were submitted to the coupling reaction affording chiral enynic alcohos with Z configuration. The reaction sequence was tested initially in its racemic version.

A tripanossomíase sul-americana, também conhecida como Doença de Chagas é uma enfermidade endêmica da América Latina.A doença é causada pelo protozoário Trypanosoma cruzi, cuja transmissão em seres humanos e outros mamíferos ocorrem, principalmente, através das fezes do inseto \"barbeiro\" (triatoma infestans) infectado.Desde a descoberta já foram realizadas inúmeras tentativas de tratamento sem obter quimioterapia eficaz. Hoje o tratamento é realizado pelo uso do fármaco nitroheterocíclico benznidazol. Porém esse composto só é utilizado na fase aguda da doença e tem sua eficácia variada de acordo com a área geográfica, provavelmente como consequência de variação de cepas do parasita e apresenta graves efeitos colaterais. Uma ferramenta interessante em Química Medicinal é o uso do bioisosterismo para a síntese de moléculas análogas, que por possuírem propriedades biológicas relacionáveis geralmente atuam no mesmo alvo farmacológico como agonistas ou antagonistas. Por outro lado, as reações relacionadas às condensações de cicloadição 1,3 dipolar catalisadas por Cu(I), envolvendo estratégias de \"click chemistry\" tem como pontos positivos o fato de geralmente não formarem subprodutos, serem de fácil execução e apresentarem rendimentos elevados. Partindo de dois compostos comerciais (benzilamina e cloreto de cloro acetila) efetuou-se a síntese de uma biblioteca de vinte e três compostos análogos ao benznidazol através de uma rota sintética curta e de fácil execução. Foram realizados ensaios de atividade tripanocida envolvendo a cepa Tulahuen de T.cruzi, bem como ensaios de citotoxicidade. / The South American trypanosomiasis, also known as Chagas\' disease is an endemic disease in Latin America. The disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, whose transmission in humans and other mammals occur primarily through the faeces of the insect \"barbeiro\" (triatoma infestans) infection. Since the discovery already been carried out many attempts to obtain effective chemotherapy treatment. Today\'s treatment is accomplished through the use of the drug nitro-heterocyclic benznidazole. However this compound is only used in the acute phase of the disease and its effectiveness is varied in accordance with the geographical area, probably as a consequence of the variation of strains of the parasite and presents serious side effects. An interesting tool in medicinal chemistry is the use of bioisosterism for the synthesis of analogous molecules, which possess biological properties relatable generally act on the same target as pharmacological agonists or antagonists. Moreover, the reactions related to condensations of 1.3 dipolar cycloaddition catalyzed by Cu(I), involving strategies \"click chemistry\" has the strengths of the fact usually do not form byproducts, being easy to perform and present high yields. Starting from two commercial compounds benzylamine and chloro acetyl chloride) we performed the synthesis of a library of twenty-three analog compounds to benznidazole via a synthetic route short and easy to perform. Tests of trypanocidal activity involving Tulahuen strain of T. cruzi, and cytotoxicity assays.

A presente tese contém as reações de sulfenilação ainda não descritas na literatura de compostos &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos, tais como ácidos, ésteres e &#947;-butirolactona. Dois métodos distintos são elaborados: 1) em meio homogêneo, no caso dos ácidos &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos; 2) em catálise de transferência de fase, na sulfenilação dos ésteres &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos e da &#947;-butirolactona. A apresentação e discussão dos resultados é precedida por duas revisões bibliográficas. A primeira trata das reações de sulfenilação em meio homogêneo de compostos carboxílicos e de sulfonas. A segunda apresenta as reações em catálise de transferência de fase, destacando as condições experimentais e os aspectos mecanísticos das reações. Devido ao fato de serem escassos na literatura os exemplos de reações de carbânions com agentes sulfenilantes em CTF, foram por nós apresentadas as reações de alquilação. As reações de sulfenilação dos ácidos &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos em meio homogêneo, empregando NaH/DMSO e dimetildissulfeto, conduziram às sulfonas &#945;-sulfeniladas, com desprendimento de CO2(g). O estudo mecanístico destas reações indicou dois caminhos diferentes, dependendo da estrutura dos ácidos &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos estudados. No caso dos ácidos &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos &#945;-alquil substituídos, ocorre inicialmente a formação do diânion, que em seguida é sulfenilado e finalmente, no work-up, descarboxilado e protonado. (Ver arquivo). No caso dos ácidos &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos &#945-aril substituídos, a descarboxilação ocorre logo após a adição de base, com a formação de carbânion, o qual ataca o agente sulfenilante. (Ver arquivo). A sulfenilação pelo método de transferência de fase, utilizando-se K2CO3/benzeno como base, BTEAC como catalisador e metanotiossulfonato de metila como agente sulfenilante, não se mostrou satisfatória no caso dos ácidos &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos, mas sim no caso dos ésteres correspondentes. Os ésteres &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos, tanto &#945;-alquil como &#945;-aril substituídos, renderam os produtos sulfenilados em bons rendimentos. Entretanto, o passo reacional seguinte, hidrólise alcalina, com a finalidade de se obter as sulfonas &#945;-sulfeniladas, somente foi bem sucedida no caso dos ésteres sulfenilados &#945;-alquil substituídos, sendo que no caso dos ésteres sulfenilados &#945;-aril substituídos foram obtidos produtos secundários. (Ver arquivo). É apresentada uma comparação entre os rendimentos e os tempos de reação destes dois métodos distintos, ou seja, sulfenilação em meio homogêneo dos ácidos &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos e sulfenilação em transferência de fase dos ésteres &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos correspondentes, seguida de hidrólise, e mostrada a vantagem deste último na obtenção das sulfonas &#945;-sulfeniladas. Foi observado que tanto na sulfenilação dos ácidos &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos em meio homogêneo como também na dos correspondentes ésteres em CTF a reação é influenciada pelos fatores estéricos. Além do interesse sintético na obtenção de sulfonas alifáticas &#945;-sulfeniladas, é também apresentada a importância dos ésteres &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos alifáticos e aromáticos como precursores de &#945;-ceto ésteres, compostos de interesse biológico, sendo esta conversão efetuada através da decomposição térmica. No estudo de sulfenilação da &#945;-sulfonil &#947;-butirolactona foi verificado que, ao contrário dos ésteres &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos, a reação pelo emprego de K2CO3 ocorre sem o auxílico do catalisador, sendo o rendimento do produto sulfenilado semelhante ao da reação em meio homogêneo pelo emprego de NaH/DMSO. Este fato, indicativo de que a reação de sulfenilação da &#945;-sulfonil &#947;-butirolactona ocorre na interface, foi explicado em termos da maior reatividade do carbânion correspondente. As tentativas de decomposição térmica e em meio ácido da &#945;-sulfonil &#947;-butirolactona &#945;-sulfenilada não conduziram à &#945;-ceto lactona desejada, de interesse biológico, e a falta de reatividade é interpretada em termos mecanísticos. (Ver arquivo). O estudo acima apresentado mostrou que as reações de sulfenilação de compostos carboxílicos ativados pelo grupo sulfonila ocorrem através de carbânions formados de duas maneiras diferentes: 1) ataque de base sobre o carbono ativado, seja em meio homogêneo ou em CTF; 2) descarboxilação do sal sódico do ácido carboxílico, que ocorre em meio homogêneo. No decorrer do presente estudo foram sintetizados vinte e cinco compostos ainda não descritos na literatura, entre eles: cinco ésteres &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos, dois ácidos &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos, uma &#945;-sulfonil lactona, cinco sulfonas &#945;-sulfeniladas, uma &#945;-sulfonil lactona &#945;-sulfenilada e onze ésteres &#945;-sulfonil carboxílicos a-sulfenilados. / This thesis presents new sulfenylation reactions of some &#945;-sulfonyl carboxylic compounds, such as carboxylic acids, esters ad &#947;-butyrolactone. Two different methods have been developed: 1) in the homogeneous media for the &#945;-sulfonyl carboxylic acids and 2) in phase transfer catalysis for the corresponding esters and &#947;-butyrolactone. The literature data on the sulfenylation reactions in homogeneous media for carboxylic compounds and sulfones are presented. As there are few examples in the literature for the sulfenylation reactions in PTC, the data for the alkylation reactions were collected. The reactions of &#945;-sulfonyl carboxylic acids with NaH/DMSO and methyl disulfide let to the corresponding &#945;-sulfenylated sulfones with evolution of CO2(g). The mechanistic studies showed that this reaction may occur through two different routes, A and B, in dependence on the substrate structure. (See file). A new procedure of sulfenylation by phase transfer method was elaborated in the case of &#945;-sulfonyl carboxylic esters, employing K2CO3/benzene as base and methyl methanethiolsulfonate as sulfenylating agent to give the corresponding &#945;-sulfenylated products. The latter, only in the case of the &#945;-alkylsubstituted derivatives, afforded by alkaline hydrolysis &#945;-sulfenylated sulfones. (See file). The comparison on the efficiency of these two different methods for obtention of &#945;-sulfenylated sulfones showed that the phase transfer procedure, followed by hydrolysis, is more advantageous. &#945;-Sulfenylated sulfonyl esters, &#945;-alkyl as well as &#945;-aryl substituted, showed to be also intermediates, through thermal decomposition, of the corresponding &#945;-keto esters, of biological interest. The sulfenylation studies of &#945;-sulfonyl-&#947;-butyrolactone, contrary to the sulfenylation of &#945;-sulfonyl esters, showed that the reaction may occur also in the absence of the catalyst. This difference in reactivity, which is indicative of an interfacial reaction, has been attributed to the increased reactivity of the &#945;-sulfonyly-&#947;-butyrolactone carbanion. The attempts of thermal or acid decomposition of the &#945;-sulfenylated &#945;-sulfonyl-&#947;-butyrolactone to yield the corresponding &#945;-keto derivative failed. (See file). Resuming, the sulfenylation reactions of the carboxylic compounds, activated by the &#945;-sulfonyl group, may occur through carbanions, which are originated either by attack of base on the &#945;-carbon atom or from decarboxylation of the carboxylates. In the course of the present study twenty five new compounds were prepared, including five &#945;-sulfonyl carboxylic esters, two &#945;-sulfonyl carboxylic acids, one &#945;-sulfonyl lactone, five &#945;-sulfenylated sulfones, one &#945;-sulfenylated &#945;-sulfonyl lactone and eleven &#945;-sulfenylated &#945;-sulfonyl carboxylic esters.