Since recognizing the significance of reversible oxidative addition of palladium into aryl halides in the synthesis of 2-bromo-indoles, the Lautens group has focused on unusual carbon-halogen reductive eliminations. These efforts led to the discovery of the novel palladium-catalyzed inter- and intramolecular carbohalogenation reaction – the formal addition of an sp2 carbon–iodide bond across an alkene. One current research direction is utilizing a range of aryl halides and pseudohalides as starting materials for carbohalogenation chemistry. This thesis describes complementary research, focusing on the expansion of functional group scope. Carbohalogenation has been developed to synthesize novel products including heteroaromatic compounds and 7-membered rings. Polyunsaturated aryl iodide substrates were investigated with the goal of performing domino carbohalogenation. Ultimately, the successful halogen exchange process was combined with domino carbohalogenation in an efficient halogen-exchange domino reaction. Additionally, preliminary studies on enantioselective carbohalogenation, and functionalization of the neopentyl iodide products are also discussed.

This work began with the synthesis and full characterization of a novel £^-diimine ligand, (2,6-iPr2C6H3N=CH)2C6H4, from the reaction of o-phthaladehyde and the bulky aniline, 2,6-diisopropylaniline. It was observed that any <i>di-ortho</i>-substituted aniline with less bulky groups than isopropyl groups resulted in formation of the corresponding iminisoindolines. Reaction of the £^-diimine ligand with PdCl2 did not result in a seven-membered coordination complex, but in non-palladacyclic complex, [(g-diimine)PdCl(Ý-Cl)]2. Whereas reaction with Pd(OAc)2 gave an S-shaped five-membered trinuclear palladacyclic complex, {1,2-(2,6-iPr2-C6H3N=CH)2-C6H3]Pd(Ý-OAc)2}2Pd. These complexes were found to be active precatalysts for Heck and Suzuki coupling reaction giving TONs of up to 104 and 86, for arylbromides and arylchlorides, respectively.<p> On the other hand, a series of neutral and cationic seven-membered aluminum coordination complexes were obtained from the reaction of £^-diimine with a variety of aluminum species (AlMe3, AlMe2Cl, AlMeCl2 and AlCl3). The synthesis and characterization of these complexes are exemplified.<p> Also illustrated in this thesis is the synthesis and characterization of a series of air- and moisture-stable iminoisoindoline-based palladacyclic compounds of the general formula, [(iminoisoindoline)Pd{Ý-OAc}]2. These six-membered palladacyclic complexes were obtained through a simple two-step protocol as analytically pure solids. Phosphine-ligated mononuclear palladacycles of the general formula, [Pd(iminoisoindoline)X(PR3)], X= OAc or Cl, R = Ph or Cy, are also described. Dinuclear palladacycles were also found to be active for the Heck and Suzuki C-C coupling reactions. TONs of up to 106, 105 and 60 were observed for coupling of iodobenzene, <i>p</i>-acetylbromobenzene and <i>p</i>-chlorobenzaldehyde, respectively in the Heck coupling reaction.

We have described two important classes of palladium-catalyzed reactions for the synthesis of heterocycles and carbocycles: tandem Pd-catalyzed reactions of gem-dibromoolefins and domino Pd-catalyzed reactions via an ortho C−H functionalization. Chapter 1 describes the tandem Pd-catalyzed reaction of gem-dibromoolefins via an intramolecular direct arylation and an intermolecular Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. A number of aromatic carbocycles were synthesized by this method. Chapter 2 describes the tandem Pd-catalyzed reactions of β,β-dibromoenamides via an intramolecular C−O bond formation and an intermolecular Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. Depending on the substituent on the nitrogen of β,β-dibromoenamides, either aromatic heterocycles or acyclic compounds can be synthesized. Chapter 3 and 4 describe the domino Pd-catalyzed reactions via an ortho C−H functionalization of aryl iodides. 2-Pyrrole substituted phenyl iodides were coupled with alkyl bromides in the presence of norbornene to provide aromatic tetracyclic compounds through three C−C bond formations (Chapter 3). However, the reaction between 2-methyl substituted phenyl iodides and the alkyl bromides in the presence of norbornene provided tetrasubstituted helical alkenes with the norbornene incorporated in the final product through four C−C bond formations (chapter 4). In Chapter 5, detailed mechanistic studies including kinetic and NMR studies were described for the regioselective C−H functionalization of 2-pyrrole substituted phenyl iodides. The studies provided advanced and important understanding of the mechanism, and a rationale for the high regioselectivity.

<i>N</i>-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) have widely been used as spectator ligands in organometallic chemistry. Chelating bidentate di-<i>N-</i>heterocyclic carbenes (diNHC) provide additional entropic stability to their complexes relative to monodentate analogues. The steric and electronic environment around the metal centre can be fine-tuned by varying the substituents on the nitrogen atoms of the diNHC ligand. Synthesis and characterization of air and moisture stable bis(diimidazolylidene)nickel(II) complexes, [(diNHC)2Ni]2+, and their corresponding silver(I) and palladium(II) analogues are described.<p> Investigations into the catalytic potential of diNHC complexes of nickel as an alternative to palladium systems in carbon-carbon coupling reactions are discussed. In the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction, the [(diNHC)2Ni]2+ complex was active for the coupling of aryl chlorides as well as aryl fluorides. The analogously synthesized Pd(II) complexes resulted in formation of (diNHC)PdCl2 species which were not active for the coupling of aryl fluorides. Transition-metal free coupling reactions were investigated and the results indicated that in the Mizoroki-Heck reaction, aryl iodides could be activated in the absence of nickel or palladium precatalysts when using Na2CO3 or NEt3 as base, while in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, aryl iodides and aryl bromides could be activated without any precatalyst when K3PO4 was used as base.<p> A general route into the synthesis of non-symmetrically substituted ligand precursors has been developed. Synthesis and characterization of non-symmetrically substituted ligand precursors, and their corresponding silver(I), palladium(II) and nickel(II) complexes are described. The activity of one of the non-symmetrically substituted (diNHC)Pd(II) complexes in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of bulky substrates has been investigated. Non-symmetrically substituted diNHC ligand precursors with a hemi-labile pyridine arm have been synthesized and their corresponding Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes are described.<p> Attempts to synthesize three-coordinate Pd(II) complexes using bulky â-diketiminato ligands are also discussed.

We have described two important classes of palladium-catalyzed reactions for the synthesis of heterocycles and carbocycles: tandem Pd-catalyzed reactions of gem-dibromoolefins and domino Pd-catalyzed reactions via an ortho C−H functionalization. Chapter 1 describes the tandem Pd-catalyzed reaction of gem-dibromoolefins via an intramolecular direct arylation and an intermolecular Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. A number of aromatic carbocycles were synthesized by this method. Chapter 2 describes the tandem Pd-catalyzed reactions of β,β-dibromoenamides via an intramolecular C−O bond formation and an intermolecular Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. Depending on the substituent on the nitrogen of β,β-dibromoenamides, either aromatic heterocycles or acyclic compounds can be synthesized. Chapter 3 and 4 describe the domino Pd-catalyzed reactions via an ortho C−H functionalization of aryl iodides. 2-Pyrrole substituted phenyl iodides were coupled with alkyl bromides in the presence of norbornene to provide aromatic tetracyclic compounds through three C−C bond formations (Chapter 3). However, the reaction between 2-methyl substituted phenyl iodides and the alkyl bromides in the presence of norbornene provided tetrasubstituted helical alkenes with the norbornene incorporated in the final product through four C−C bond formations (chapter 4). In Chapter 5, detailed mechanistic studies including kinetic and NMR studies were described for the regioselective C−H functionalization of 2-pyrrole substituted phenyl iodides. The studies provided advanced and important understanding of the mechanism, and a rationale for the high regioselectivity.

The regioselectivity in Pd(0)-catalyzed direct arylation of pyrrole, thiophene, and indole can be improved by blocking some of the reactive sites with a chloride group, leading to increased yields of the desired regioisomers. Competition experiments and computational studies show that the blocking group also activates the substrates toward arylation. Due to the activated nature of chlorinated heteroaromatics, rare and sought after regioisomers, such as 3-arylthiophenes, can be obtained under mild conditions in good yields. Chlorine-bearing thiophenes arylated at C3 and C4 have the potential to undergo controlled regioregular polymerization under conditions developed in the field of polythiophene chemistry. Mechanistic studies support the hypothesis that the arylation of the substrates under investigation likely proceeds via the CMD transition state.

The purpose of this thesis was to conduct preliminary research into the feasibility of using MCM-41 as a catalyst support material in the treatment of organochloride contaminated water. Specifically, the stability of MCM-41 in water and its efficiency as a Pd metal catalyst support in the degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) was examined. MCM-41 is a mesoporous siliceous material that was developed by scientists with the Mobile Corporation in 1992. Since its development, MCM-41 has been the subject of a great deal of research into its potential application in catalytic sciences. The material possesses two especially notable characteristics. First, the diameter of its pores can be adjusted between 2 and 10 nm depending on the reagents and procedure used in its synthesis. Second, MCM-41 has an exceptionally high surface area, often in excess of 1 000 m2/g in well-formed samples. Other researchers have succeeded in grafting a variety of different catalytic materials to the surfaces and pores of MCM-41 and reported dehalogenation reactions proceeding in the presence of hydrogen. Thus, MCM-41 shows promise in treating a variety of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (cVOCs), such as chlorinated benzenes, trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE) and some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Preliminary stages of this research were devoted to synthesising a well-formed sample of MCM-41. The method of Mansour et al. (2002) was found to be a reliable and repeatable procedure, producing samples with characteristic hexagonal crystallinity and high surface areas. Crystallinity of all materials was characterized by small angle X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Samples of MCM-41 prepared for this research exhibited a minimum of three distinct peaks in their XRD traces. These peaks are labelled 100, 110, and 200 according to a hexagonal unit cell. The 100 peak indicates that the sample is mesoporous. The 100, 110, and 200 peaks together indicate a hexagonal arrangement of the mesopores. An additional peak, labelled 210, was also observed in materials prepared for this research, reflecting a high degree of crystallinity. The position of the 100 peak was used to calculate the unit cell parameter - “a” - of the samples according to Bragg’s Law. The value of the unit cell parameter corresponds to the centre to centre distance of the material’s pores and thus the relative diameter of the pores themselves. The unit cell parameter of samples prepared for this research ranged from 4.6 nm to 5.3 nm with an average value of 4.8 nm. Surface areas of prepared samples were determined by BET nitrogen adsorption analysis and ranged from 1 052 to 1 571 m2/g with an average value of 1 304 m2/g. Field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of a representative sample of MCM-41 revealed a particle morphology referred to as ‘wormy MCM-41’ by other researchers. A sample of aluminum-substituted MCM-41 (Al-MCM-41) was also synthesized. The crystallinity of Al-MCM-41 was characterized by small angle XRD. The XRD trace of the material showed only one distinct peak centred at 2.1 degrees 2θ. The 110 and 200 peaks seen in MCM-41 were replaced by a shoulder on the right hand side of the 100 peak. The shape of this trace is typical of Al-MCM-41 prepared by other researchers and is indicative of the lower structural quality of the material, i.e. a less-ordered atomic arrangement in Al-MCM-41 compared to that of regular MCM-41. The unit cell parameter of the Al-MCM-41 sample was 4.9 nm. The surface area of the sample was determined through BET nitrogen adsorption analysis and found to be 1 304 m2/g. Attempts were made to synthesize an MCM-41 sample with enlarged pores. Difficulties were encountered in the procedure, specifically with regards to maintaining high pressures during the crystallization stage. Higher temperatures used during these procedures caused failure of the O-ring used in sealing the autoclave, allowing water to be lost from the reaction gel. Samples generated in these attempts were amorphous in character and were subsequently discarded. A solubility study involving MCM-41 was undertaken to determine the stability of the material in water at ambient temperature and pressure. The experiment included several different solid/water ratios for the dissolution experiments: 1/200, 1/100, 1/75, 1/25. Results indicated that MCM-41 is metastable at ambient temperatures and more soluble than amorphous silica in water. The maximum silica concentration observed during the experiment was used to calculate a minimum Gibbs free energy of formation for MCM-41 of - 819.5 kJ/mol. The higher free energy value compared to quartz (- 856.288 kJ/mol) is indicative of the metastability of the material in water. Supersaturation with respect to amorphous silica was observed in samples prepared with relatively high concentrations of MCM-41. A subsequent decrease in dissolved silica concentration with time in these samples represented precipitation of amorphous silica, driving the concentration downward towards saturation with respect to this phase (120 ppm). The equilibrium concentration of 120 ppm recorded in these samples represented 4.8 mg out of 200, 400, 500, and 1 600 mg of initial MCM-41 dissolving into solution in the solid/liquid ratios of 1/200, 1/100, 175, and 1/25, respectively. Supersaturation with respect to amorphous silica did not occur in experiments with very low solid/water ratios. It also did not occur in higher solid/water experiments from which the SiO2 saturated supernatant was decanted and replaced with fresh deionized water after two weeks of reaction. The difference in dissolution behaviour is believed to result from deposition of a protective layer of amorphous silica from solution onto the MCM-41 surfaces, which reduces their dissolution rate. Thus, supersaturation with respect to amorphous silica is only manifested at early time and only when relatively large amounts of fresh MCM-41 are added to water. The solubility experiment was repeated using samples of Al-MCM-41 to determine the effect of Al substitution on the stability of the MCM-41. Dissolution curves for the Al-MCM-41 samples revealed behaviour that was analogous to that of the silica-based MCM-41 at similar solid/water ratios. Substitution of Al into the structure of MCM-41 appeared to have no positive or negative effects on the stability of the material in water. Solid MCM-41 material was recovered on days 28 and 79 of the solubility experiment and dried under vacuum. Solid material was also recovered from the Al-MCM-41 solubility experiment on day 79. These recovered samples were characterized by XRD and BET nitrogen adsorption analysis. An increase in background noise in the XRD plot of MCM-41 from the fresh to the 79 d sample indicated an increased proportion of an amorphous phase in the sample. The XRD plot of the 79 d sample of Al-MCM-41 also showed increased background noise corresponding to an increased proportion of an amorphous phase. The increased amorphous phase would have resulted from the continuous dissolution of the crystalline MCM-41 and reprecipitation as amorphous silica in the samples. BET surface area analysis of recovered MCM-41 compared to the freshly prepared material showed no significant change in surface area after 28 and 79 days in water. Analysis of the 79 d Al-MCM-41 indicated a 10% decrease in surface area relative to the as-prepared material. A set of SEM images were taken of the day 28 and 79 MCM-41 samples and compared to a sample of freshly prepared material. No substantial change in morphology was observed in the day 28 sample when compared to the fresh material. Some change was noted in the day 79 sample particle morphology, with worm-like structures appearing to be better developed than in the as-synthesized material. A series of palladized MCM-41 (Pd/MCM-41) samples with varying mass percent loadings of Pd was prepared to investigate the dehalogenation efficiency of Pd/MCM-41 in contact with TCE. TCE degradation was investigated in batch experiments. MCM-41 samples were prepared with calculated Pd loadings of 0.1, 1, and 5 mass %. The actual palladium content of the materials was determined using an EDAX-equipped SEM. The success of the loading technique was better at lower mass loadings of Pd, i.e. there was a greater deviation of actual Pd content from targeted or calculated contents at higher loadings of Pd. It was found that a procedure designed to yield 1% by mass Pd/MCM-41 produced an average loading of 0.95% Pd by mass. A procedure designed to produce a 5% Pd/MCM-41 sample resulted in an average loading of 2.6 mass %. These deviations were attributed to error inherent in the EDAX analysis and reduced effectiveness of the loading technique at higher Pd concentrations. All batch experiment reaction bottles were prepared with solid/liquid ratios of 1/800. The various Pd/MCM-41 samples induced rapid dehalogenation reactions, with the maximum extent of TCE degradation occurring before the first sample was taken at 7 to 12 min and within 35 min in the case of 0.1% Pd/MCM-41. The 0.1% Pd/MCM-41 sample degraded 70% of total TCE in solution with an estimated degradation half-life of 14 min. The 1% Pd/MCM-41 sample degraded 92% of total TCE in solution with an estimated half life of between 3 and 6 min. The 5% Pd/MCM-41 sample degraded only 22% of total TCE in solution; degradation half-life could not be determined. The seemingly paradoxical result of lower degradation efficiency at higher Pd loadings is proposed to result from absorption of hydrogen from solution by Pd, which is unreactive relative to the dissolved hydrogen in solution. Production of reaction intermediates and daughter products was also lower in the 1% by mass Pd/MCM-41 experiment compared to the 0.1 and 5% by mass Pd/MCM-41. Analysis of degradation products results from the experiments indicated that TCE degrades to ethane in the presence of Pd/MCM-41 with relatively low concentrations of chlorinated daughter products resulting from a random desorption process. A batch experiment using pure silica MCM-41 was also conducted to determine if there was adsorption of TCE to the support material itself. A lack of change in TCE concentration between the control sample and the MCM-41 sample during the experiment indicated no significant adsorption of TCE onto MCM-41. The conclusion of this research is that although MCM-41 is relatively unstable in water, its high TCE degradation efficiency shows promise for its application in developing water treatment technologies. However, more research needs to be conducted to fully determine the potential use of MCM-41 in water treatment and to investigate ways to improve its long-term stability in water.

This work began with the synthesis and full characterization of a novel £^-diimine ligand, (2,6-iPr2C6H3N=CH)2C6H4, from the reaction of o-phthaladehyde and the bulky aniline, 2,6-diisopropylaniline. It was observed that any <i>di-ortho</i>-substituted aniline with less bulky groups than isopropyl groups resulted in formation of the corresponding iminisoindolines. Reaction of the £^-diimine ligand with PdCl2 did not result in a seven-membered coordination complex, but in non-palladacyclic complex, [(g-diimine)PdCl(Ý-Cl)]2. Whereas reaction with Pd(OAc)2 gave an S-shaped five-membered trinuclear palladacyclic complex, {1,2-(2,6-iPr2-C6H3N=CH)2-C6H3]Pd(Ý-OAc)2}2Pd. These complexes were found to be active precatalysts for Heck and Suzuki coupling reaction giving TONs of up to 104 and 86, for arylbromides and arylchlorides, respectively.<p> On the other hand, a series of neutral and cationic seven-membered aluminum coordination complexes were obtained from the reaction of £^-diimine with a variety of aluminum species (AlMe3, AlMe2Cl, AlMeCl2 and AlCl3). The synthesis and characterization of these complexes are exemplified.<p> Also illustrated in this thesis is the synthesis and characterization of a series of air- and moisture-stable iminoisoindoline-based palladacyclic compounds of the general formula, [(iminoisoindoline)Pd{Ý-OAc}]2. These six-membered palladacyclic complexes were obtained through a simple two-step protocol as analytically pure solids. Phosphine-ligated mononuclear palladacycles of the general formula, [Pd(iminoisoindoline)X(PR3)], X= OAc or Cl, R = Ph or Cy, are also described. Dinuclear palladacycles were also found to be active for the Heck and Suzuki C-C coupling reactions. TONs of up to 106, 105 and 60 were observed for coupling of iodobenzene, <i>p</i>-acetylbromobenzene and <i>p</i>-chlorobenzaldehyde, respectively in the Heck coupling reaction.

This research is focused on development of routes towards the rational design of nanoparticle catalysts. Primarily, it is focused on two main projects; (1) the use of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) as greener media for the design of quasi-homogeneous nanoparticle catalysts and (2) the rational design of heterogeneous-supported nanoparticle catalysts from structured nanoparticle precursors. Each project has different studies associated with the main objective of the design of nanoparticle catalysts.<p> In the first project, imidazolium-based ionic liquids have been used for the synthesis of nanoparticle catalysts. In particular, studies on recyclability, reuse, mode-of-stability, and long-term stability of these ionic-liquid supported nanoparticle catalysts have been done; all of which are important factors in determining the overall greenness of such synthetic routes. Three papers have been published/submitted for this project. In the first publication, highly stable polymer-stabilized Au, Pd and bimetallic Au-Pd nanoparticle catalysts have been synthesized in imidazolium-based 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM]PF6) ionic liquid (Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 2008, 286, 114). The resulting nanoparticles were found to be effective and selective quasi-homogeneous catalysts towards a wide-range of hydrogenation reactions and the catalyst solution was reused for further catalytic reactions with minimal loss in activity. The synthesis of very pure and clean ILs has allowed a platform to study the effects of impurities in the imidazolium ILs on nanoparticle stability. In a later study, a new mode of stabilization was postulated where the presence of low amounts of 1-methylimidazole has substantial effects on the resulting stability of Au and Pd-Au nanoparticles in these ILs (Chemical Communications, 2009, 812). In further continuation of this study, a comparative study involving four stabilization protocols for nanoparticle stabilization in BMIMPF6 IL is described, and have shown that nanoparticle stability and catalytic activity of nanoparticles is dependent on the overall stability of the nanoparticles towards aggregation (manuscript submitted).<p> The second major project is focused on synthesizing structurally well-defined supported catalysts by incorporating the nanoparticle precursors (both alloy and core shell) into oxide frameworks (TiO2 and Al2O3), and examining their structure-property relationships and catalytic activity. a full article has been published on this project (Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2009, 113, 12719) in which a route to rationally design supported catalysts from structured nanoparticle precursors with precise control over size, composition, and internal structure of the nanoparticles has been shown. In a continuation of this methodology for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts, efforts were carried out to apply the same methodology in imidazolium-based ILs as a one-pot media for the synthesis of supported-nanoparticle heterogeneous catalysts via the trapping of pre-synthesized nanoparticles into porous inorganic oxide materials. Nanoparticle catalysts in highly porous titania supports were synthesized using this methodology (manuscript to be submitted).

<i>N</i>-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) have widely been used as spectator ligands in organometallic chemistry. Chelating bidentate di-<i>N-</i>heterocyclic carbenes (diNHC) provide additional entropic stability to their complexes relative to monodentate analogues. The steric and electronic environment around the metal centre can be fine-tuned by varying the substituents on the nitrogen atoms of the diNHC ligand. Synthesis and characterization of air and moisture stable bis(diimidazolylidene)nickel(II) complexes, [(diNHC)2Ni]2+, and their corresponding silver(I) and palladium(II) analogues are described.<p> Investigations into the catalytic potential of diNHC complexes of nickel as an alternative to palladium systems in carbon-carbon coupling reactions are discussed. In the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction, the [(diNHC)2Ni]2+ complex was active for the coupling of aryl chlorides as well as aryl fluorides. The analogously synthesized Pd(II) complexes resulted in formation of (diNHC)PdCl2 species which were not active for the coupling of aryl fluorides. Transition-metal free coupling reactions were investigated and the results indicated that in the Mizoroki-Heck reaction, aryl iodides could be activated in the absence of nickel or palladium precatalysts when using Na2CO3 or NEt3 as base, while in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, aryl iodides and aryl bromides could be activated without any precatalyst when K3PO4 was used as base.<p> A general route into the synthesis of non-symmetrically substituted ligand precursors has been developed. Synthesis and characterization of non-symmetrically substituted ligand precursors, and their corresponding silver(I), palladium(II) and nickel(II) complexes are described. The activity of one of the non-symmetrically substituted (diNHC)Pd(II) complexes in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of bulky substrates has been investigated. Non-symmetrically substituted diNHC ligand precursors with a hemi-labile pyridine arm have been synthesized and their corresponding Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes are described.<p> Attempts to synthesize three-coordinate Pd(II) complexes using bulky â-diketiminato ligands are also discussed.