Chapter 1: Facile entry into triazole fused tetrahydropyrazinones from amines and amino acids. In this chapter, A practical and high yielding regioselective synthesis of several new, enantiopure 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro[1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-6-ones is described starting from primary amines in a three step reaction sequence (alkylation, acylation, one-pot displacement with azide followed by cycloaddition) employing constrained intramolecular ‘click’ reaction as the key step. The method obviates chromatographic purification of products. This methodology was also extended to the synthesis of diverse triazole fused tetrahydropyrazinones derived from amino acids. The scope of this methodology was extended by varying the alkyl as well as acyl components which furnished other triazole fused novel heterocycles. Chapter 2: Facile entry into triazole fused heterocycles via sulfamidate derived azido-alkynes. Direct synthesis of condensed triazoles from diverse sulfamidates by ring opening of sulfamidates with sodium azide followed by one-pot propargylation and cycloaddtion furnished title compounds. The methodogy in general has been demonstrated on diverse sulfamidates derived from amino acids, amino acid derivatives to obtain a variety of triazole fused scaffolds. In one example, a condensed triazole containing amino acid has been synthesized by ring opening of a sulfamidate derivative with propargyl amine. This methodology has also been extended to the synthesis of condensed triazoles derived from D-glucose. Chapter 3: ‘Click Chemistry’ Inspired Synthesis of Novel Ferrocene-Amino acid, Peptide Conjugates. In this chapter synthesis of a wide range of ferrocene-amino acid and peptide conjugates in excellent yield is presented. Conjugation is established via copper catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. Two complementary strategies were employed for conjugation, one involving cycloaddition of amino acid derived azides with ethynyl ferrocene and the other involving cycloaddition between amino acid derived alkynes with ferrocene derived azides. Labeling of amino acids at multiple sites with ferrocene is discussed. A new route to 1, 1’ unsymmetrically substituted ferrocene conjugates is reported. A novel ferrocenophane is accessed via bimolecular condensation of amino acid derived bis alkyne with azide. The electrochemical behavior of a few selected ferrocene conjugates has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. Chapter 4: Click Chemistry inspired Synthesis of Ferrocene Amino acids and other derivatives. This work reports the synthesis of a wide range of ferrocenyl-amino acids and other derivatives in excellent yield. Diverse amino acid containing azides were synthesized and ligated to ferrocene employing click reaction to access ferrocenyl amino acids. Chiral alcohols, esters, diols amines containing azido group were tagged to ferrocene via click reaction to generateferrocene derived chiral derivatives. A novel strategy for direct incorporation of ferrocene into a peptide and a new route to 1, 1’ disubstituted ferrocene amino acid derivative are reported. Synthesis of mono and disubstituted ferrocene derivatives employing ferrocene derived azides is also described. Chapter 5: Convenient synthesis of Ferrocene Conjugates mediated by Benzyltriethylammonium Tetrathiomolybdate in a multi-step tandem process. The synthesis of a wide range of ferrocene derived sulfur linked mono and disubstituted Michael adducts and conjugates mediated by benzyltriethylammonium tetrathiomolybdate in a tandem process is reported. New route to access acryloyl ferrocene and 1,1’-bis acryloyl ferrocene is discussed. Conjugation of amino acids to ferrocene is established via their Nand Ctermini and also via side chain employing conjugate addition as key step to furnish monovalent and divalent conjugates. This methodology has also been extended to access several ferrocene carbohydrate conjugates. The electrochemical behavior of a few selected ferrocene conjugates has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. Finally, 1,1’-bis acryloyl ruthenocene was synthesized and it was utilized for the preparation of ruthenocene-carbohydrate conjugate in good yield. Chapter 6: Formation of Intramolecular S-Se bond mediated by tetrathiomolybdate. In this chapter, we have disclosed our preliminary results on reactivity of tetrathiomolybdate towards compounds containing both thiocyanate and selenocyanate functionalities. Several such compounds have been synthesized from the corresponding dibromides in two steps. We have observed selective reductive dimerization of selenocyanate over thiocyanate. In all the cases we also obtained seleno-sulfides via disulfide diselenide exchange reaction upon addition of excess tetrathiomolybdate. In the case of substrates on benzene scaffold, disulfide and diselenide bridged macrocycles were obtained apart from seleno sulfides whereas in the case of ferrocene derived substrates, formation of macrocycles was not observed. A tentative mechanism for the formation of these novel seleno sulfides is also discussed.(For structural formula pl see the pdf file)

Following the discovery of electronic conductivity in doped polyacetylene, various studies on conducting polymers have been investigated. These polymers are essentially characterized by the presence of conjugated bonding on polymer backbone, which facilitates formation of polarons and bipolarons as charge carriers. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is an interesting polymer because of high electronic conductivity, ease of synthesis and high chemical stability. Electrochemically prepared PEDOT is more interesting than the polymer prepared by chemical routes because it adheres to the electrodes surface and the PEDOT coated electrodes can directly be used for various applications such as batteries, supercapacitor, sensors, etc. A majority of the studies described in the thesis are based on PEDOT. Studies on polyanthanilic acid and reduction of hydrogen peroxide on stainless steel substrate are also included. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to conducting polymers with a focus on synthesis, electrochemical characterization and applications of PEDOT. In Chapter 2, microscopic and impedance spectroscopic characterization of PEDOT coated on stainless steel (SS) and indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates are described. Electrosynthesis of PEDOT is carried out on SS electrodes by three different techniques, namely, potentiostatic, galvanostatic and potentiodynamic techniques. The SEM images of PEDOT prepared by the galvanostatatic and potentiostatic routes indicate globular morphology. However, it is seen that porosity increases by increasing the current or the potential. In the cases of both galvanostatic and potentiostatic routes, the oxidation of EDOT to form PEDOT takes place continuously during preparation. However, in the case of potentiodynamic experiment between 0 and 0.9 V vs. SCE (saturated calomel electrode), the formation of PEDOT occurs only when the potential is greater than 0.70 V. During multicycle preparation to grow thicker films of PEDOT, formation of PEDOT takes place layer by layer, a layer of PEDOT being formed in each potential cycle. PEDOT prepared in the potential ranges 0-0.90 V and 0-1.0 V show globular morphology similar to the morphology of the galvanostatically and potentiostatically prepared polymer. If prepared in the potential ranges 0-1.1 V and 0-1.2 V, the PEDOT films have rod-like and fibrous morphology. This is attributed to larger amount of PEDOT formed in each cycle in comparison with lower potential ranges and also to partial oxidation of PEDOT at potentials ≥ 1.10 V. PEDOT is also electrochemically prepared on ITO coated glass substrate. Preparation is carried out under potentiostatic conditions in the potential range between 0.9 and 1.2 V. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies indicate a globular topography for PEDOT films prepared on ITO coated glass plates. The height and width of globules increase with an increase in deposition potential. The PEDOT coated SS electrodes are subjected to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies in 0.1 M H2SO4. The Nyquist plot of impedance consists of a depressed semicircle, which arises due to a parallel combination of the polymer resistance and double-layer capacitance (Cdl). Impedance data are analyzed. Studies on electrooxidation of methanol, formic acid, formaldehyde and ethanol on nanocluster of Pt and Pt-Ru deposited on PEDOT/C electrode are reported in Chapter 3. Studies on electrooxidation of small molecules are important in view of their promising applications in fuel cells. Films of PEDOT are electrochemically deposited on carbon paper. Nanoclusters of Pt and bimetallic Pt-Ru catalysts are potentiostatically deposited on PEDOT/C electrodes. Catalysts are also prepared on bare carbon paper for studying the effect of PEDOT. The presence of PEDOT film on carbon paper allows the formation of uniform, well dispersed nanoclusters of Pt as well as Pt-Ru catalysts. TEM studies suggest that the nanoclusters of about 50 nm consist of nanoparticles of about 5 nm in diameter. Electrooxidation of methanol, formic acid, formaldehyde and ethanol are studied on Pt-PEDOT/C and PtRu-PEDOT/C electrodes by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The data for oxidation of these small organic molecules reveal that PEDOT imparts a greater catalytic activity for the Pt and Pt-Ru catalysts. Results of these studies are described in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, PEDOT is coated on SS substrate to investigate phenol oxidation. Studies on electrochemical oxidation of phenol are interesting because it is important to remove phenol from contaminated water or industrial effluents. Deactivation of the anode due to the formation and adsorption of polyoxyphenylene on its surface is a common problem for a variety of electrode materials, during phenol oxidation. Investigations on suitable anode materials, which can undergo no or moderate poisoning by polyoxyphenylene, are interesting. In the present study, it is shown that the electrooxidation rate of phenol is greater on PEDOT/SS electrodes than on Pt. Deactivation of PEDOT/SS electrode is slower in relation to Pt. The oxidation of phenol on PEDOT/SS electrode occurs to form both polyoxyphenylene and benzoquinone in parallel. Cyclic voltammetry of phenol oxidation is studied by varying the concentration of phenol, sweep rate and thickness of PEDOT. Ac impedance studies indicate a gradual increase in polymer resistance due to adsorption of polyoxyphenylene during multi sweep cyclic voltammetry. This investigation reveals that PEDOT coated on a common metal or alloy such as SS is useful for studying electrooxidation of phenol, which is generally studied on a noble metal based electrodes. Electrochemically prepared PEDOT is used for supercapacitor studies and the results are presented in Chapter 5. Generally, electronically conducting polymers possess high capacitive properties due to pseudo-faradaic reactions. PEDOT/SS electrodes prepared in 0.1 M H2SO4 are found to yield higher specific capacitance (SC) than the electrodes prepared from neutral aqueous electrolyte. The effects of concentration of H2SO4, concentration of SDS, potential of deposition and nature of supporting electrolytes used for capacitor studies on SC of the PEDOT/SS electrodes are studied. Specific capacitance values as high as 250 F g-1 in 1 M oxalic acid are obtained during the initial stages of cycling. However, there is a decrease in SC on repeated charge-discharge cycling. Spectroscopic data reflect structural changes in PEDOT on extended cycling. Self-doped PANI is expected to possess superior electrochemical characteristics in relation to PANI. The self-doping is due to the presence of an acidic group on the polymer chain. However, self-doped PANI is soluble in acidic solutions against insolubility of PANI. In the present study, poly(anthranilic acid), PANA, is encapsulated in porous Nafion membrane by chemical and a novel electrochemical methods. PANA present in solid form in Nafion membrane does not undergo dissolution in acidic solutions. The methods of preparation and various electrochemical, optical and spectroscopic characterizations studies of PANA-Nafion are described in Chapter 6. Electroreduction of H2O2 is studied on sand-blasted stainless steel (SSS) electrode in an aqueous solution of NaClO4 and the details are reported in Chapter 7. The cyclic voltammetric reduction of H2O2 at low concentrations is characterized by a cathodic peak at -0.40 V versus standard calomel electrode (SCE). Cyclic voltammetry is studied by varying the concentration of H2O2 in the range from 0.2 mM to 20 mM and the sweep rate in the range from 2 to 100 mV s-1. Cyclic voltammograms at concentrations of H2O2 higher than 2 mM or at high sweep rates consist of an additional current peak, which may be due to the reduction of adsorbed species formed during the reduction of H2O2. Amperometric determination of H2O2 at -0.50 V vs. SCE provides the detection limit of 5 μM H2O2. A plot of current density versus concentration has two linear segments suggesting a change in the mechanism of H2O2 reduction at concentrations of H2O2 ≥ 2 mM. From the rotating disc electrode study, diffusion co-efficient of H2O2 and rate constant for reduction of H2O2 are evaluated. Thus, stainless steel, which is inexpensive and a common alloy, is useful for studying electrochemical reduction of H2O2 and also for analytical application. This work is initiated to study the reduction of H2O2 on PEDOT/SS electrodes. As a result of preliminary experiments, it is found that PEDOT does not exhibit any influence on the kinetics of H2O2 reduction. Therefore studies conducted using bare stainless steel are included in this chapter. Results of the above studies are described in the thesis.

Despite the unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties associated with peptides, they are still of great interest in drug development due to a multitude of interesting biological functions. The development of peptidomimetics strives to maintain or improve the biological activity of a peptide concurrently with removing the unwanted properties. This thesis describes two synthetic approaches to peptidomimetics with particular emphasis on secondary structure mimetics. First the design, synthesis and evaluation of two beta-turn mimetics incorporated in the endorphin Leu-enkephalin is presented. The beta-turn mimetics were stabilized by replacement of the intramolecular hydrogen bond with an ethylene bridge, and the amide bond between Tyr and Gly was replaced with an ether linkage. Linear analogues of the two mimetics were also synthesized. The peptidomimetics and their linear analogues were evaluated in a competitive binding assay at two opiate receptors, my and delta. One of the cyclized beta-turn mimetics was found to be a delta receptor antagonist with an IC50 value of 160 nM. Second a synthetic strategy to a beta-strand mimetic using 2-fluoro-4-iodopyridine as scaffold is described. The synthesis involved a Grignard exchange reaction on the pyridine scaffold using an amino acid derivative as electrophile followed by an SNAr reaction using an amine as nucleophile. The synthesis of a tripeptidomimetic of Leu-Gly-Gly and attempts to introduce chiral building blocks at the C-terminal, as well as studies towards elongated mimetics are presented. Two additional studies deal with the synthesis of two classes of potential thrombin inhibitors based on the pyridine scaffold. The first class contain pyridine as central fragment (P2 residue) substituted with a para-amidinobenzylamine group as P1 residue and various benzoyl groups as P3 residues. Three potential thrombin inhibitors were synthesized and found to be microM inhibitors in an enzymatic assay. In the second class, the pyridine ring serves as P3 residue. This class also lacks a strongly basic group in the P1 position. A small library of eight compounds were synthesized and evaluated in the enzymatic assay. Unfortunately, these compounds lacked inhibitory activity.

This thesis describes the development of new synthetic methodologies for preparation of bioactive interesting compounds, e.g. substituted pyridines, piperidines or piparazines. Thesecompounds are synthesized from commercially available, cheap and easily prepared reagents, videlicet the reaction between Grignard reagents and heterocyclic N-oxides.  The first part of this thesis deals with an improvement for synthesis of dienal-oximes and substituted pyridines. This was accomplished by a rapid addition of Grignard reagents to pyridine N-oxides at rt. yielding a diverse set of substituted dienal-oximes. During these studies, it was observed that the obtained dienal-oxmies are prone to ring-close upon heating. By taking advantage of this, a practical synthesis of substituted pyridines was developed. In the second part, an ortho-metalation of pyridine N-oxides using Grignard reagents is discussed. The method can be used for incorporation of a range of different electrophiles, including aldehydes, ketones and halogens. Furthermore, the importance for incorporation of halogens are exemplified through a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of 2-iodo pyridine N-oxides and different boronic acids. Later it was discovered that if the reaction temperature is kept below -20 °C, the undesired ringopening can be avoided. Thus, the synthesis of 2,3-dihydropyridine N-oxide, by reacting Grignard reagents with pyridine N-oxides at -40 °C followed by sequential addition of aldehyde or ketone, was accomplished. The reaction provides complete regio- and stereoselectivity yielding trans-2,3-dihydropyridine N-oxides in good yields. These intermediate products could then be used for synthesis of either substituted piperidines, by reduction, or reacted in a Diels–Alder cycloaddtion to give the aza-bicyclo compound. In the last part of this thesis, the discovered reactivity for pyridine N-oxides, is applied on pyrazine N-oxides in effort to synthesize substituted piperazines. These substances are obtained by the reaction of Grignard reagents and pyrazine N-oxides at -78 °C followed by reduction and protection, using a one-pot procedure. The product, a protected piperazine, that easily can be orthogonally deprotected, allowing synthetic modifications at either nitrogens in a fast and step efficient manner. Finally, an enantioselective procedure using a combination of PhMgCl and (-)-sparteine is discussed, giving opportunity for a stereoselective synthesis of substituted piperazines.

The thesis entitled “Enantioselective synthesis of bio-active bicyclic acetals, cyclic ethers and lactones” demonstrates the utility of chiral pool tartaric acid as the source in the synthesis of natural products. The results are discussed in three chapters; 1) Enantioselective synthesis of bio-active bicyclic acetals, 2) Enantioselective synthesis of bio-active cyclic ethers and 3) Enantioselective synthesis of bio-active lactones. A brief introduction is provided in each chapter to keep the present work in proper perspective. Compounds (in bold) and references (in superscripts) are sequentially numbered differently for each chapter and references are given as foot notes. Experimental procedures are given differently for each chapter and placed at the end of chapter. Scanned 1H and 13C NMR spectras are given with description of signals. Chapter 1 describes the enantioselective synthesis of bicyclic acetal containing insect pheromones. First part of this chapter deals with the enantiodivergent synthesis of both enantiomers of hydroxy-exo-brevicomin and 2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin starting from a single chiral compound, bis-Weinreb amide derived from L-(+)-tartaric acid. Controlled addition of Grignard reagent to bis-Weinreb amide followed by diastereoselective reduction of the resultant ketone was employed as the key step for the enantiodivergent synthesis of hydroxy-exo-brevicomin and 2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin. In the second part, enantioselective synthesis of exo-brevicomin, iso-exo-brevicomin and formal synthesis of frontalin comprising similar framework is demonstrated, utilizing á -benzyloxy aldehydes derived from L-(+)-tartaric acid as chiral building block. Second Chapter describes the enantioselective synthesis of bio-active cyclic ethers, disparlure, centrolobine and isolaurepan. Employing á-benzyloxy aldehydes derived from L-(+)-tartaric acid as the chiral building block, synthesis of both enantiomers of insect pheromone disparlure is achieved involving the diastereoselective addition of allyltributyl tin to the á-benzyloxy aldehyde and cross metathesis of the resultant homoallylic alcohol with 4-methyl-1-pentene. Formal synthesis of centrolobine and isolaurepan are accomplished. Pivotal step involved in the synthesis of centrolobine is iron(III) mediated cyclization of 1,5-diol derived from L-(+)-tartaric acid, while Lewis acid mediated reductive cyclization of the hydroxy ketone derived from á-benzyloxy aldehyde is the key step in the synthesis of isolaurepan. Third chapter in the thesis deals with the enantioselective synthesis of bio-active lactones muricatacin, 6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide and boronolide. Utilizing á-benzyloxy aldehyde as the building block, synthesis of five and six membered lactones, muricatacin and 6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide were accomplished via the diastereoselective addition of 3-butenylmagnesium bromide and allyltributyl tin to á-benzyloxy aldehyde, respectively. Stereoselective formal synthesis of boronolide was described, starting from D-(–)-tartaric acid. Key reaction sequence includes the elaboration of ã-hydroxy amide obtained by a combination of controlled Grignard addition and diastereoselective reduction from bis- Weinreb amide derived from D-(–)-tartaric acid.

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 makes them ideal targets for developing and testing new synthetic strategies for efficient articulation of carbocyclic frameworks. The thesis entitled “Enantiospecific approaches to komarovispiranes” describes the utility of the monoterpene α-campholenaldehyde as chiral starting material in the enantiospecific synthesis of a variety of bi- and tricyclic compounds, and enantiospecific first total synthesis of spiro diterpenes komarovispiranes. For convenience the results are described in two different sections, viz., (a) Chiral synthons from α-campholenaldehyde; and (b) Enantiospecific synthesis of a komarovispirane. In the thesis, the compounds are sequentially numbered (bold) and the references are marked sequentially as superscripts and listed in the last section of the thesis. Complete details of the experimental procedures and the spectroscopic data were provided in the experimental section. A brief introduction is provided wherever appropriate to keep the present work in proper perspective. All the spectra included in the thesis were obtained by xeroxing the original NMR spectra. Monoterpenes are widely used as chiral auxiliaries, but their potential as chiral synthons has not been properly exploited. In the present thesis, utility of α-campholenaldehyde, which is readily available from α-pinene in two steps, as chiral synthon has been demonstrated in the enantiospecific synthesis of a few bi- and tricarbocyclic frameworks as well as spiroditerpenes komarovispiranes. To begin with, synthesis of several bi- and tricyclic compounds, namely bicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one; bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one; bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one; 3-cyclopentylcyclopentanone; bicyclo[4.3.0]non-3-one; spiro[4.4]non-2-one; tricyclo[6.3.0.02,6]undecan-6-ol; and spiro[4.5]decan-2-one; have been accomplished employing an intramolecular rhodium carbenoid C-H insertion, intramolecular type II carbonyl ene cyclisation, intramolecular acid catalysed diazoketone cyclisation reactions and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction as the key steps. Komarovispirone is a tricyclic spiro diterpene isolated from Dracocephalum komarovi Lipsky, a perennial semishrub available in Uzbekistan and exhibits trypanocidal activity. The novel diterpene containing an unusual carbon framework, cyclohexane spiro fused to bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, coupled with the potential biological activity have made komarovispirone, and its analogues interesting and challenging synthetic targets. Initially, as a model study, enantiospecific synthesis of a bis-norkomarovispirane was developed employing 7,8,8-trimethylbicyclo[3.3.0]oct-6-en-3-one as the starting material, which was readily available from campholenaldehyde. A Claisen rearrangement and RCM reaction based methodology was developed for the spiroannulation of a cyclohexane ring at the C-3 position of the bicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one. For the enantiospecific first total synthesis of komarovispiranes, the AB-trans ring system was generated via ring expansion of 7,8,8-trimethylbicyclo[3.3.0]oct-6-en-3-one employing ozonolytic cleavage followed by an intramolecular aldol condensation reaction of the resultant keto aldehyde. For the generation of the ABC ring system of the komarovispiranes, initially, a Claisen rearrangement and intramolecular type II carbonyl ene reaction based methodology was developed for the spiroannulation of a cyclohexane ring at the C-8 position of the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-8-one. Subsequently, an alternate Claisen rearrangement-RCM reaction based methodology was also developed for the spiroannulation, and extended it to the first total synthesis of a komarovispirane.

Total synthesis of natural products with diverse architecture and varying degree of complexity is an area that has not only inspired and attracted several generations of organic chemists but also continues to enrich and refresh the foundations of organic chemistry itself, by offering new ideas and directions. Synthetic organic chemistry is perhaps the most formative and expressive enterprise of science in terms of its creative power and unlimited scope. Its impact on present day life and prosperity gets manifested when we see this science as the bedrock behind the production of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, fertilizers, nutritional products, high tech materials, polymers, cosmetics, plastics and clothing. Science of synthesis is also going to play an important role in the evolution of future societies based on the principles of the sustainable development. Being a precise science and a fine art, the endeavor of total synthesis is in a constant state of effervescence. Most significantly, the discipline is being continually challenged by new structures unraveled from the Nature’s bosom. The practice of total synthesis is being enriched constantly by new tools such as new reagents and catalysts as well as by analytical techniques. In fact, there has been a dramatic advancement in the recent past in the development of new synthetic protocols with high regio-, streo-, and enantiocontrol, which makes it possible to target natural product of any complexity. The demand for enantiomerically pure drugs, agrochemicals and food additives is growing, since pure enantiomers are often more target-specific and have fewer side effects than the recemic mixtures. As a result, synthesis of natural products in an enantioselective manner has been receiving increasing attention from synthetic chemists in recent years. Nature synthesizes a vast array of novel molecular structures in enantioselective fashion through several well-established biosynthetic pathways utilizing a few key building blocks. Among them mevalonate pathway to terpenes, shikimate pathway to aromatics, alkaloids and the polyketide pathway to aromatics, macrolides and related compounds are the most noteworthy. Polyketides, constitutes a large family of natural products built from acyl coenzyme A monomers and exhibit remarkable diversity both in terms of their structure and function. These natural products display a wide range of medicinally important activities such as antibiotic, anticancer, antifungal, hypolipidemic and immunosuppressive properties. In recent years, polyketide derived natural products embodying an epoxyquinone core, have been surfacing with increasing frequency from diverse natural sources. Both on account of their structural diversity and promising biological activity, polyketide derived epoxyquinoid natural products have evoked considerable attention from the synthetic community during the past few years. We too got enticed towards these natural products as an offshoot of ongoing research activity in the group. The present thesis entitled “Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Bioactive Epoxyquinoid Natural Products” is described in four chapters. Chapter 1: Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-eupenoxide, (+)-6-epi-eupenoxide and (+)-phomoxide; Chapter 2: Enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-EI-1941-2; Chapter 3: Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-integrasone. Chapter 4: Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-hexacyclinol. It’s quite tempting to highlight the fact that while Nature might have used entirely different biochemical machinery to build up all these diverse natural products; but in the chemical laboratory all the syntheses have emanated from a single starting material, symbolizing the intrinsic power and versatility of chemical synthesis.

Bicyclic dihydrothiazolo fused 2-pyridones have been studied as a new class of antibacterial agents, termed pilicides, that target the formation of adhesive bacterial surface organelles (pili) in pathogenic bacteria. Synthetic methods to further functionalize the bicyclic 2-pyridone scaffold have been developed in order to increase water-solubility and thereby facilitate biological evalua-tions. This was accomplished by introducing aminomethylenes at the open position C-6. Tertiary amines were introduced via a microwave–assisted Mannich reaction and a synthetic route based on a formyl intermediate gave access to primary, secondary and tertiary amines, but also to other interesting functionalities. Biological evaluation confirmed that several of the function-alized compounds inhibited pili formation in uropathogenic E. coli., as dem-onstrated by assays of hemagglutination, biofilm formation and adherence to bladder cells. Co-crystallizing one of the pilicides with the target protein gave information about the binding site and based on this a mechanism of action was proposed, which was supported experimentally by surface plas-mon resonance and single point mutations in the protein. Furthermore, the previously developed acylketene imine reaction used to prepare bicyclic thiazolo fused 2-pyridone pilicides has been developed to allow preparation of other ring-fused 2-pyridone systems. Benzo[a]quinolizine-4-ones and indolo[2,3-a]quinolizine-4-ones could be prepared in a fast and simple manner starting from dihydroisoquinolines and a β-carboline. Finally, this method could also be applied for the preparation of heteroatom analogs of the previously studied sulfur containing pilicides. Biological evaluations established that the sulfur atom can be replaced by oxygen and still maintain the ability to prevent pili assembly.

The thesis entitled “Enantioselective synthesis of didemniserinolipid, cladospolides, aspercyclide and muricatacin” is divided into three chapters. First chapter of the thesis deals with the formal total synthesis both enantiomers didemniserinolipid B from L-(+)-tartaric acid. Fused bicyclic acetals containing 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane structural unit are wide spread in bio active natural products. Didemniserinolipids A-C possessing similar framework were isolated from a methanol extract of Didemnum sp., and some of the analogous compounds were found to be cytotoxic against P388, A549, and HT29 tumor cell lines. Pivotal reactions en route to the natural product include the elaboration of a γ-hydroxy amide derived from tartaric acid, olefin cross metathesis and Wittig olefination (Scheme 1). (+)-didemniserinolipid B Scheme 1: Retrosynthesis of both enantiomers of didemniserinolipid B. Second chapter of the thesis describes an enantiodivergent synthesis of macrolactones: In section A, enantiodivergent approach for the synthesis of cladospolides B, C and iso-cladospolide B is described. The cladospolides A-D are a class of 12-membered macrolactones, isolated from various cladosporium species of fungi and posseses a range of biological activities. Key reaction in the synthetic sequence involve formation of the required side chain by olefin cross metathesis. Selective Wittig olefination and lactonization afforded cladospolides (Scheme 2). Scheme 2: Enantiodivergent synthesis of cladospolide B, C and iso-cladospolide B. In section B, synthesis of bio-active biaryl ether lactone aspercyclide is described. Aspercyclides A-C are 11-membered biaryl ether lactones isolated from the extraction of the fermentation broth of an Apergillus. Sp.. Aspercyclides are reported to be moderately active (IC50 of 200 M for aspercyclide A) in the IgE receptor binding, which is key for the understanding of allergic disorders. A combination of Boord elimination and Mitsunobu reactions were employed to synthesize the key homoallylic alcohol from γ-hydroxy amide derived from tartaric acid. Elaboration of γ-hydroxy amide derived from L-(+)-tartaric acid is the key step for the synthesis of both enantiomers of the chiral homoallylic alcohol part, while Ullmann coupling reaction is employed to construct biaryl linkage. Ring closing metathesis (RCM) of the diene furnished required macrolactone (Scheme 3). Scheme 3: Enantiodivergent formal total synthesis of aspercyclide C. Last chapter of the thesis describes the enantioselective synthesis of muricatacin, a bio-active butanolide isolated as the major component of a scalemic mixture from the seeds of Annona muricata. Muricatacin was found to exhibit potent cytotoxicity toward several human tumor cell lines with SAR studies showing that activity is influenced significantly by the nature of the side chain. Stereoselective synthesis of ()-Muricatacin and structurally similar butanolide L-Factor has been accomplished from L-(+)-tartaric acid. Pivotal strategy in the synthesis is the elaboration of -hydroxy amide to the required allylic alcohol which on further reactions (including RCM) provided muricatacin (Scheme 4). Scheme 4: Stereoselective synthesis of Muricatacin and L-Factor. (For structural formula pl refer the thesis)

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-02-27. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:25:51Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 Publico-10940a.pdf: 1658831 bytes, checksum: ef7d2834f9c77439f22a6b2da7c722c7 (MD5). Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:25:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 2 Publico-10940a.pdf: 1658831 bytes, checksum: ef7d2834f9c77439f22a6b2da7c722c7 (MD5) Publico-10940b.pdf: 1216468 bytes, checksum: bd1ea49c2bfdfa8789e58924c9513820 (MD5) / Nesta dissertação, são descritos os estudos visando a síntese total da isodolastatina H, um éster peptídico natural da família das dolastatinas com grande atividade citotóxica. O diferencial nesta sintese sobre as outras, foi a construcao das unidades gama-aminoacidos Dil e Dap, que foram obtidas via reacao de adicao de sais de crotil e aliltrifluoroboratos a L -prolinal e L -valinal, respectivamente. Os fragmentos foram posteriormente unidos por reacoes de esterificacao e amidacao. / This dissertation, are described the study towards to total synthesis of isodolastatin H, a natural peptide ester of dolastatin family with great citotoxicity activity. The main focus in this synthesis, is the construction of gama-aminoacid units Dil and Dap, obtained via addition reaction of crotyl and allyltrifluoroborate salts with L -prolinal and L-valinal, respectively. The junction of fragments was subsequently made from esterification and amidation reaction. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações