Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Technology: Organic Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / ortho-Deoxygrisan (38), a spirodienone was synthesised from bisphenol (42) using both conventional and microwave assisted methods. The bisphenol (42) was synthesised from phenol (52) by conventional and microwave assisted methods. Benzophenone (43) was synthesised from compound (49) which in turn was synthesised from compound (53) by chromic acid oxidation in acetic anhydride or acetic acid. Compound (53) was synthesised from bisphenol (42) by mono-acetylation method.Acid-catalysed rearrangement of ortho-deoxygrisan (38) in the absence of light was investigated. Chromatography of the reaction mixture afforded compound (D) as a major component. Attempts to synthesise ortho-grisan (50) from benzophenone (43) were unsuccessful. Microwave assisted selenium dioxide oxidation of compound (53) gave a yellow compound C. The spectra of this compound were very similar to the spectra of ortho-deoxygrisan (38). However, selenium dioxide was reacted with compound (53) in the absence of microwave to give a yellow solid B. The 1H NMR spectral data of this compound led to the proposed structure B for it. / National Research Foundation.

In Part 1, the Diels-Alder adducts of trimethyl cyclopentadienylstannane (I.3) with maleic anhydride and fumaronitrile are prepared in 61% yield. The molecular structure of the adduct with maleic anhydride (1.6) is unequivocally established as 7-syn-trimethy1stannyl-endo- bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enyl-2,3-dicarboxy1ic anhydride by single crystal X-ray structure analysis. In Part II, the high yield preparation of some new S-a1ky1-Saryl- N-p-toluenesu1fonylsu1foximines, by ruthenium tetroxide oxidation of the corresponding su1filimine, is described. Dehydrochlorination of S-chloroethy1-N-p-toluenesu1fonyl-S-p-toly1su1foximine and its S-phenyl analog with triethylamine gives the previously unknown N-p-to1uenesu1fony1- S-p-to1y1-S-viny1sulfoximine (II.17) and its S-phenyl analog. The Diels-Alder reaction of II.17 with a variety of 1,3-dienes and the known N-phtha1imido-S-p-tolyl-vinylsu1foximine (11.14) and the previously unreported S-p-nitropheny1-N-phtha1imido-viny1su1foximine (11.39) with cyclopentadiene are described. All of the reactions give mixtures of the possible adducts. The configuration of the major diastereomer (II.19d) of the adducts of II.14 with cyclopentadiene is known from a single crystal X-ray structure analysis. The structures of the other adducts are determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopic analysis. Chemical correlation of II.19d with the adducts of II.17 with cyclopentadiene confirm the assignment made by ¹H NMR. A competition Die1s-Alder reaction between II.17 and p-toly1-viny1sulfone shows that the vinylsulfoximine is more reactive. Sodium amalgam reduction of the cyclohexadienyl adducts of II.17 gives bicyclo[2.2.2Joctene and hydrazine in allyl alcohol reduction of adduct II.19d gives the corresponding sulfoxide II.20d.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management