This thesis discusses the field of asymmetric synthesis of oxiranes. An introduction highlighting the most successful methods for the synthesis of chiral epoxides including the latest advances in these areas, with particular attention paid to the organocatalytic techniques is presented in chapter one. The second chapter begins by summarizing the group's previous efforts in the initial stage of this project and sets the motif for this work. These include: the synthesis of enantiopure dihyroisoquinolinium salts with a chiral residue attached to the exocyclic carbon-nitrogen bond as catalysts for asymmetric epoxidation; utilizing systems such as camphor and natural amino acids as starting points for these syntheses; developing other catalyst families in order to delve into the possibility of eliminating the structural weaknesses leading to loss of enantioselectivity in the oxygen transfer process; attempts to probe the reactive intermediates responsible for the asymmetric induction by analytical techniques; checking for catalyst applicability with different alkene and sulphide substrates; the development of anhydrous reaction conditions and their testing with the successful catalysts prepared. Enantiomeric excesses of up to 70% have been obtained. An attempt at exploring the synthesis of chiral reagents for the asymmetric epoxidation via a Payne/peroxyacid route is also described. This chapter concludes with a comparison of the catalyst families generated, and presents a few suggestions for future research in this area. The third chapter is dedicated to, the experimental section and includes the methods of synthesis and characterization of the compounds in the results and discussion chapter. There are three appendices at the. end of the thesis; Appendix A contains a summary the X-ray reports regarding the crystallographic data of the compound structures presented in chapter two. Appendix B contains samples of the analytical spectra of the enantiomeric excess determination for epoxides. Appendix C includes a copy of both publications I was involved in during my research in this topic.

L’utilisation de carbènes N-hétérocycliques (NHCs), en tant qu’activateurs organiques « multitâches », a permis la polymérisation de deux classes de monomères : les monomères vinyliques de type (méth)acrylique et les monomères cycliques de type époxyde. En particulier, la polymérisation par transfert de groupe (GTP) catalysée par les NHCs a été utilisée pour polymériser les monomères acryliques et méthacryliques, dans des solvants polaires comme apolaires, en présence d’un amorceur de type acétal de cétène silylé. Sur cette base des copolymères à blocs « tout-acrylique » ont été synthétisés. Dans une autre étude, la polymérisation par ouverture de cycle (ROP) des oxydes d’éthylène et de propylène a été induite par les NHCs. Dans un premier cas, les NHCs ont été utilisés comme amorceurs de la réaction. Puis, en employant un amorceur tiers, ils ont servi de catalyseurs de la ROP. Des poly(oxyde d’éthylène) et poly(oxyde de propylène) hétérodifonctionnels ont été synthétisés. Enfin, une dernière approche a permis de concilier les deux méthodes de polymérisation. A l’aide d’un système unique d’amorçage, la copolymérisation séquentielle d’un monomère vinylique polaire et d’un monomère cyclique a pu être réalisée. / The use of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as multitask organic activators has enabled the polymerization of two classes of monomers: polar vinylic monomers like (meth)acrylics, and cyclic epoxides. In particular, the NHC-catalyzed group transfer polymerization (GTP) has been used to polymerize both acrylic and methacrylic monomers, either in polar or apolar solvents, in the presence of a silyl ketene acetal as initiator. On this basis, “all-acrylic” block copolymers have been synthesized. In another study, the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ethylene and propylene oxides was induced by NHCs. In one case, NHCs have been used as initiators of the reaction. On the other hand, using a third compound, they have served as catalysts for the ROP. Heterobifonctional poly(ethylene oxide)s and poly(propylene oxide)s have been synthesized. A final approach has brought together the two polymerization methods. Using a single initiating system, the sequential copolymerization of a polar vinylic monomer and a cyclic monomer has been achieved.