N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have emerged as appropriate replacements for phosphines in transition metal catalyzed cross-coupling chemistry. The advantages of NHCs over phosphines include ease of handling, minimal toxicity, stability and powerful electron donating properties. Improvement of catalytic processes has become increasingly relevant in light of prospective applications of organic transformations in industry as well as in synthetic laboratories. To that end, NHCs represent an important class of catalysts and catalyst modifiers which mandate continued research efforts. Prospective applications of processes catalyzed by NHCs and NHC-metal catalysts provide a strong impetus to develop them and related methodologies. This dissertation focuses on the development of NHCs and NHC ligated metal complexes in various catalytic transformations. NHC ligated palladium catalysts were synthesized in simplified protocols amenable to large-scale industrial applications. The catalysts were utilized in developing different valuable coupling methodologies. Significant advances were achieved in Suzuki-Miyaura, á-arylation of ketones and Kumada-Tamao-Corriu cross coupling reactions. The focus of the work was to make the synthesized catalysts and their activity in these methodologies acceptable to wider range of applications. The strongly nucleophilic nature and easily tunable steric and electronic properties of NHCs have been exploited to mediate organic transformations by utilizing NHCs as catalysts. The metal-free catalysis has an added advantage of being more environmentally friendly. NHCs have proven to be excellent transesterification catalysts for reactions of alcohol and esters. An efficient catalytic system, widening the scope of N-heterocyclic carbenes catalyzed transesterification/acylation reaction of alcohols is described. The methodology has been expanded to include secondary alcohols as well as phosphorus based esters.

Copper-catalyzed regeneration in atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) utilizes reducing agents, which continuously regenerate the activator (CuI) from the deactivator (CuII) species. This technique was originally found for mechanistically similar atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and its application in ATRA and ATRC has allowed significant reduction of catalyst loadings to ppm amounts. In order to broaden the synthetic utility of in situ catalyst regeneration technique, this was applied in copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical cascade reaction in the presence of free radical diazo initiators such as 2,2���-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) and (2,2���-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethyl valeronitrile) (V-70), which is the first part of this dissertation. This methodology can be translated to sequential ATRA/ATRC reaction, in which the addition of CCl4 to 1,6-dienes results in the formation 5-hexenyl radical intermediate, which undergoes expedient 1,5-ring closure in the exo- mode to form 1,2-disubstituted cyclopentanes. When [CuII(TPMA)Cl][Cl] complex was used in conjunction with AIBN at 60 0C, cyclic products derived from the addition of CCl4 to 16-heptadiene, diallyl ether and N,N��-diallyl-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide were synthesized in nearly quantitative yields using as low as 0.02 mol% of the catalyst (relative to 1,6-diene). Even more impressive were the results obtained utilizing tert��-butyl-N,N-diallylcarbamate and diallyl malonate using only 0.01 mol% of the catalyst. Cyclization was also found to be efficient at ambient temperature when V-70 was used as the radical initiator. High product yields (>80%) were obtained for mixtures having catalyst concentrations between 0.02 and 0.1 mol%. Similar strategy was also conducted utilizing unsymmetrical 1,6-diene esters. It was found out that dialkyl substituted substrates (dimethyl-2-propenyl acrylate and ethylmethyl-2-propenyl acrylate) underwent 5-exocyclization producing halogenated g-lactones after the addition of CCl4 in the presence of 0.2 mol% of [CuII(TPMA)Cl][Cl]. Based on calculations using density functional theory (DFT) and natural bond order (NBO) analysis, cyclization of 1,6-diene esters was governed by streoelectronic factors. <br>As a part of broadening the synthetic usefulness of in situ copper(I) regeneration, scope was further extended to sequential organic transformations. Based on previous studies, copper(I) catalyzed [3+2] azide-alkyne cycloaddition is commonly conducted via in situ reduction of CuII to CuI species by sodium ascorbate or ascorbic acid. At the same time, ATRA reactions have been reported to proceed efficiently via in situ reduction of CuII complex to the activator species or CuI complex has been fulfilled in the presence of ascorbic acid. Since the aforementioned reactions share similar catalyst in the form of copper(I), a logical step was taken in performing these reactions in one-pot sequential manner. Reactions involving azidopropyl methacrylate and 1-(azidomethyl)-4-vinylbenzene in the presence of a variety of alkynes and alkyl halides, catalyzed by as low as 0.5 mol-% of [CuII(TPMA)X][X] (X=Br-, Cl-) complex, proceeded efficiently to yield highly functionalized (poly)halogenated esters and aryl compounds containing triazolyl group in almost quantitative yields (>90%). Additional reactions that were carried out utilizing tri-, di- and monohalogenated alkyl halides in the ATRA step provided reasonable yields of functionalized trriazoles. A slightly different approach involving a ligand-free catalytic system (CuSO4 and ascorbic acid) in the first step followed by addition of the TPMA ligand in the second step was applied in the synthesis of polyhalogened polytriazoles. Sequential reactions involving vinylbenzyl azide, tripropargylamine and polyhalogenated methane (CCl4 and CBr4) provided the desired products in quantitative yield in the presence of 10 mol% of the catalyst. Modest yields of functionalized polytriazoles were obtained from the addition of less active tri- and dihalogenated alkyl halides utilizing the same catalyst loading. <br>The last part focuses on copper(I) complexes, which were used catalysts in cyclopropanation reaction. One class represented cationic copper(I)/2,2-bipyridine complexes with p-coordinated styrene [CuI(bpy)(p-CH2CHC6H5)][A] (A = CF3SO3- (1) and PF6- (2) and ClO4- (3). Structural data suggested that the axial coordination of the counterion in these complexes observed in the solid state weak to non-coordinating (2.4297(11) �� 1, 2.9846(12) �� 2, and 2.591(4) �� 3). When utilized in cyclopropanation, complexes 1-3 provided similar product distribution suggesting that counterions have negligible effect on catalytic activity. Furthermore, the rate of decomposition of EDA in the presence of styrene catalyzed by 3 (kobs=(7.7��0.32)��10-3 min-1) was slower than the rate observed for 1 (kobs=(1.4��0.041)��10-2 min-1) or 2 (kobs=(1.0��0.025)��10-2 min-1). On the other hand, tetrahedral copper(I) complexes with bipyridine and phenanthroline based ligands have been reported to have strongly coordinated tetraphenylborate anions. CuI(bpy)(BPh4), CuI(phen)(BPh4) and CuI(3,4,7,8-Me4phen)(BPh4) complexes are the first examples in which BPh4- counterion chelates a transition metal center in bidentate fashion through h2 p-interactions with two of its phenyl rings. The product distribution revealed that the mole percent of trans and cis cyclopropanes were very similar. The observed rate constants (kobs) shown in for decomposition of EDA in the presence of externally added styrene were determined to be kobs=(1.5��0.12)��10-3 min-1, (6.8��0.30)��10-3 min-1 and (5.1��0.19)��10-3 min-1. / Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences / Chemistry and Biochemistry / PhD / Dissertation

Copper-catalyzed regeneration in atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) utilizes reducing agents, which continuously regenerate the activator (CuI) from the deactivator (CuII) species. This technique was originally found for mechanistically similar atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and its application in ATRA and ATRC has allowed significant reduction of catalyst loadings to ppm amounts. In order to broaden the synthetic utility of in situ catalyst regeneration technique, this was applied in copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical cascade reaction in the presence of free radical diazo initiators such as 2,2’-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) and (2,2’-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethyl valeronitrile) (V-70), which is the first part of this dissertation. This methodology can be translated to sequential ATRA/ATRC reaction, in which the addition of CCl4 to 1,6-dienes results in the formation 5-hexenyl radical intermediate, which undergoes expedient 1,5-ring closure in the exo- mode to form 1,2-disubstituted cyclopentanes. When [CuII(TPMA)Cl][Cl] complex was used in conjunction with AIBN at 60 0C, cyclic products derived from the addition of CCl4 to 16-heptadiene, diallyl ether and N,N­-diallyl-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide were synthesized in nearly quantitative yields using as low as 0.02 mol% of the catalyst (relative to 1,6-diene). Even more impressive were the results obtained utilizing tert­-butyl-N,N-diallylcarbamate and diallyl malonate using only 0.01 mol% of the catalyst. Cyclization was also found to be efficient at ambient temperature when V-70 was used as the radical initiator. High product yields (>80%) were obtained for mixtures having catalyst concentrations between 0.02 and 0.1 mol%. Similar strategy was also conducted utilizing unsymmetrical 1,6-diene esters. It was found out that dialkyl substituted substrates (dimethyl-2-propenyl acrylate and ethylmethyl-2-propenyl acrylate) underwent 5-exocyclization producing halogenated g-lactones after the addition of CCl4 in the presence of 0.2 mol% of [CuII(TPMA)Cl][Cl]. Based on calculations using density functional theory (DFT) and natural bond order (NBO) analysis, cyclization of 1,6-diene esters was governed by streoelectronic factors. <br>As a part of broadening the synthetic usefulness of in situ copper(I) regeneration, scope was further extended to sequential organic transformations. Based on previous studies, copper(I) catalyzed [3+2] azide-alkyne cycloaddition is commonly conducted via in situ reduction of CuII to CuI species by sodium ascorbate or ascorbic acid. At the same time, ATRA reactions have been reported to proceed efficiently via in situ reduction of CuII complex to the activator species or CuI complex has been fulfilled in the presence of ascorbic acid. Since the aforementioned reactions share similar catalyst in the form of copper(I), a logical step was taken in performing these reactions in one-pot sequential manner. Reactions involving azidopropyl methacrylate and 1-(azidomethyl)-4-vinylbenzene in the presence of a variety of alkynes and alkyl halides, catalyzed by as low as 0.5 mol-% of [CuII(TPMA)X][X] (X=Br-, Cl-) complex, proceeded efficiently to yield highly functionalized (poly)halogenated esters and aryl compounds containing triazolyl group in almost quantitative yields (>90%). Additional reactions that were carried out utilizing tri-, di- and monohalogenated alkyl halides in the ATRA step provided reasonable yields of functionalized trriazoles. A slightly different approach involving a ligand-free catalytic system (CuSO4 and ascorbic acid) in the first step followed by addition of the TPMA ligand in the second step was applied in the synthesis of polyhalogened polytriazoles. Sequential reactions involving vinylbenzyl azide, tripropargylamine and polyhalogenated methane (CCl4 and CBr4) provided the desired products in quantitative yield in the presence of 10 mol% of the catalyst. Modest yields of functionalized polytriazoles were obtained from the addition of less active tri- and dihalogenated alkyl halides utilizing the same catalyst loading. <br>The last part focuses on copper(I) complexes, which were used catalysts in cyclopropanation reaction. One class represented cationic copper(I)/2,2-bipyridine complexes with p-coordinated styrene [CuI(bpy)(p-CH2CHC6H5)][A] (A = CF3SO3- (1) and PF6- (2) and ClO4- (3). Structural data suggested that the axial coordination of the counterion in these complexes observed in the solid state weak to non-coordinating (2.4297(11) Å 1, 2.9846(12) Å 2, and 2.591(4) Å 3). When utilized in cyclopropanation, complexes 1-3 provided similar product distribution suggesting that counterions have negligible effect on catalytic activity. Furthermore, the rate of decomposition of EDA in the presence of styrene catalyzed by 3 (kobs=(7.7±0.32)´10-3 min-1) was slower than the rate observed for 1 (kobs=(1.4±0.041)´10-2 min-1) or 2 (kobs=(1.0±0.025)´10-2 min-1). On the other hand, tetrahedral copper(I) complexes with bipyridine and phenanthroline based ligands have been reported to have strongly coordinated tetraphenylborate anions. CuI(bpy)(BPh4), CuI(phen)(BPh4) and CuI(3,4,7,8-Me4phen)(BPh4) complexes are the first examples in which BPh4- counterion chelates a transition metal center in bidentate fashion through h2 p-interactions with two of its phenyl rings. The product distribution revealed that the mole percent of trans and cis cyclopropanes were very similar. The observed rate constants (kobs) shown in for decomposition of EDA in the presence of externally added styrene were determined to be kobs=(1.5±0.12)´10-3 min-1, (6.8±0.30)´10-3 min-1 and (5.1±0.19)´10-3 min-1. / Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences / Chemistry and Biochemistry / PhD / Dissertation

Alkenes can undergo a variety of chemical reactions to form more complex molecules with a range of functional groups. This makes them useful starting materials for synthesizing a wide range of organic compounds. Chapter I provided an overview of the development history of alkenyl C−H bond activation. The early reactions of C−H compounds with metal complexes, as well as stoichiometric activation of the transition metal-activated C–H bond, were discussed. Then the first successful and efficient organometallic-catalyzed transformations of a C−H bond, the first transition metal-catalyzed vinylic C–H functionalization, and the first transition metal-catalyzed olefinic C–H functionalization under mild conditions were demonstrated. Finally, enantioselective vinylic C–H functionalization was discussed. In Chapter II, a method for enantioselective vinylic C(sp2)−H bond activation using a Ru(II) catalyst and a chiral transient directing group was developed. Chiral amine was also utilized to control the Z/E stereoselectivity. The method demonstrated a broad substrate scope with good yield, high Z/E ratio stereoselectivity, and excellent enantioselectivity. Its synthetic utility was demonstrated by the synthesis of key structural motifs of particularly useful natural products and pharmaceutical compounds. Additionally, a rare vinylic C−H bond activated ruthenic complex was isolated and determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The methodology suggested in this work is expected to facilitate the further development of asymmetric vinylic C−H functionalization reactions. In Chapter III, a practical and efficient methodology for Ru(II)-catalyzed enantioselective alkenyl C–H bond functionalization of indole-substituted acrylaldehyde derivatives via the chiral transient directing group (CTDG) strategy to obtain optically active pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole derivatives was suggested. The methodology resulted in a series of optically active products with good yields (up to 80%), good stereoselectivity (up to 25.0:1 Z/E), and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 95% ee). Furthermore, synthetic transformations were explored. Chapter IV presented the first demonstration of a sequentially composed catalytic substitution reaction of alkenes for building multi-amido methylated derivatives while reserving the π- components. The process involved a simple Fe (III)-catalyst and bisamidomethane reagent, which directly and selectively transformed α-substituted styrenes into several biologically and pharmaceutically relevant N-heterocycles through tandem processes.

Ces travaux menés à l’IMP@UJM ont pour objectifs la réalisation de films minces alimentaires 100% compostables par extrusion gonflage, thermoformage et biétirage. Des mélanges à base de farine plastifiée et de polyesters compostables ont été étudiés. La farine peut être déstructurée par extrusion bivis en présence de glycérol de manière similaire à l’amidon. La farine thermoplastique, ainsi obtenue, présente toutefois des différences notables avec l’amidon mais ne répond toujours pas aux applications visées. Son mélange avec des matrices polyester (PBAT et PLA) dans un procédé d’extrusion bivis a été réalisé et les morphologies caractérisées. La dispersion de la farine thermoplastique dans le PBAT, de type goutte / matrice, a été mise en étroite relation avec leur comportement rhéologique. Les propriétés mécaniques à l’état solide résultantes de ces mélanges ont été discutées en terme de microstructures, déformabilité de la phase dispersée et de l’adhésion à l’interface. Avec des charges modèles mélangées dans le PBAT et des analyses microscopiques sous déformation, le comportement mécanique de la phase dispersée a été clarifié. A l’état fondu, ces mélanges proposent des propriétés intéressantes mais limitées par les modifications de la matrice lors de son mélange avec la farine. Des défauts inhérents à la farine plastifiée et aux mélanges de polymères non compatibilisés ont été identifiés et une chimie adaptée a été développée. La polymérisation par ouverture de cycle du triméthylène carbonate à partir de fonctions hydroxyle en présence de catalyseurs organiques ou amorceurs organométalliques montre des cinétiques de réaction intéressantes pour un procédé d’extrusion réactive. Des fonctions hydroxyle modèle d’environnement chimique et stérique proche de l’amidon ont été utilisées pour l’amorçage de la polymérisation et les résultats ont été transposés aux fonctions hydroxyle de l’amidon, en présence ou non de glycérol. Une modification chimique de la farine thermoplastique, par greffage d’un polycarbonate, a donc été réalisée en extrusion réactive couplée au mélange avec le PBAT. Les effets compatibilisants ont ensuite été discutés en terme de microstructures, de réactions chimiques à l’interface farine plastifiée / PBAT et de modifications de la matrice PBAT. Les propriétés mécaniques de ces mélanges à l’état solide et fondu montrent des effets liés à la modification de l’interface / Thin compostable films for extrusion blowing, thermoforming and biaxial stretching are in the scope of these works. Blend of thermoplastic flour and compostable polyesters are proposed and studied. Corn flour can be processed in a twin-screw extruder with glycerol in a similar way than starch. Thermoplastic flour shows some differences with starch but still cannot be used in thin film applications. Thermoplastic flour was blended in a melt state with a compostable polyester matrix, PBAT. Matrix / particle morphologies were achieved and linked with individual rheological behaviour. Good global mechanical properties results from these morphologies were discussed in terms of microstructures, dispersed phase deformation under stress and interface properties. Model particles blends with PBAT and microscopical investigations confirmed the mechanical behavior of the dispersed phase. These blends still suffer from inherent problems concerning thermoplastic flour and uncompatibilized blends. A suitable chemistry was developed to overcome these defects based on monomer polymerization from starch. Ring opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate in presence of hydroxyl functions and organic catalyst or organometallic initiators displays interesting reaction rates for a reactive extrusion process. Model co-initiators with chemical and sterical environments close to starch were used and transposed. Thermoplastic flour modification by polycarbonate grafting was achieved in a reactive extrusion process coupled with his blending in a melt state with PBAT matrix. Compatibilization effects were discussed in terms of microstructures, interface reactions and matrix modifications. Interface modifications were evidenced on mechanical properties of these blends

Des poly(liquides ioniques) (PILs) arrangés sous la forme de copolymères statistiques,de nanoparticules à chaine unique ou bien sous la forme de copolymères à blocs autoassemblés ont été employés comme précurseurs de carbènes N-hétérocycliques (NHC)s à des fins de catalyses organiques ou organométalliques. L’introduction d’anions acétate dans des unités PIL dérivés d’imidazolium permet la génération in situ de NHCs actifs en catalyse. Les nanoparticules composées d’une chaine unique polymère repliée sur elle-même (SCNP) ont été spécialement conçues selon deux stratégies impliquant, d’une part, une réaction d’autoquaternisation entre groupements fonctionnels antagonistes portés par la chaine et, d’autre part, une réaction de complexation organométallique à l’aide d’un sel de palladium. Dans lesdeux cas, les chaines polymères ont été obtenues par polymérisation contrôlée (méthode RAFT). Les copolymères à blocs amphiphiles comportant un bloc PIL fonctionnalisé par du palladium ont été synthétisés par polymérisation RAFT et auto-assemblés dans l’eau sous forme de micelles.Un effet de confinement des sites catalytiques a clairement été démontré à travers des réactions de catalyse pour les couplages de Suzuki et de Heck dans l’eau, avec un gain cinétique très net par rapport à des homologues non micellisés, en plus d’une grande facilité de recyclage de ces supports micellaires.Enfin, des copolymères à blocs à base de PIL-benzimidazolium à contre anion bis(trifluoromethane)-sulfonylimide de lithium ont été développés comme agents dopants conducteurs ioniques de matrices structurantes PS-b-PEO. Des mélanges configurés en films minces avec une quantité minimale d’agent dopant ont conduit dans certaines conditions à des valeurs optimales de conductivité ionique grâce à une nano structuration des films à longue distance. / Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) in the form of random copolymers, single chain nanoparticles(SCNPs), or self assembled block copolymers have been used as N-heterocyclic carbenes(NHCs) precursors for the purpose of organic and organometallic catalysis. Introducing acetate derivative counter anion in imidazolium based PIL units enable in situ generation of catalyticallyactive NHC. SCNPs have been specially designed along two strategies including, firstly, a self quaternization reaction involving two antagonists groups supported on to the polymer chain and,secondly, an organometallic complexation featuring palladium salt. Both polymeric precursors were obtained using RAFT as controlled polymerization method. Amphiphilic block copolymers composed of a PIL block functionalized by palladium have been synthesized by RAFT and self-assembled in water, leading to micellar structures. Confinement effect has been demonstrated through Suzuki and Heck coupling in water showing kinetic gain compared to molecular homologue in addition to an easier recycling method.Finally, PIL-benzimidazolium based block copolymers with lithium bis(trifluoromethane)-sulfonylimide anion have been developed as ionic conductor doping agent for PS-PEO matrix. Thin films blends with minimum doping agent amount led to optimum ionic conductivity owing tolong range order.