The use of degradable biomedical materials has during the past decades indeed modernized medical science, finding applications in e.g. tissue engineering and drug delivery. The key question is to adapt the material with respect to mechanical properties, surface characteristics and degradation profile to suit the specific application. Degradation products are generally considered non-toxic and they are excreted from the human body. However, large amounts of hydroxy acids may induce a pH decrease and a subsequent inflammatory response at the implantation site. In this study, macromolecular design and a combination of cross-linking and adjusted hydrophilicity are utilized as tools to control and tailor degradation rate and subsequent release of degradation products from biomedical polyester-ethers. A series of different homo- and copolymers of -caprolactone (CL) and 1,5-dioxepan-2-one (DXO) were synthesized and their hydrolytic degradation was monitored in phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4 and 37 °C for up to 546 days. The various materials comprised linear DXO/CL triblock and multiblock copolymers, PCL linear homopolymer and porous structure, and random cross-linked homo- and copolymers of CL/DXO using 2,2’-bis-(ε-caprolactone-4-yl) propane (BCP) as a cross-linking agent. The results showed that macromolecular engineering and controlled hydrophilicity of cross-linked networks were useful implements for customizing the release rate of acidic degradation products in order to prevent the formation of local acidic environments and thereby reduce the risk of inflammatory responses in the body. / QC 20101109

The two stage Lucite Alpha Process for the industrial manufacturing of methyl methacrylate (MMA) represents one of the most efficient technologies currently available for the large scale production of this important chemical commodity. The second stage of this process, which involves the condensation of methyl propanoate (MeP) with formaldehyde over a heterogeneous fixed bed catalyst, however, still shows great scope for improvement. Herein the development of a novel homogeneous catalytic system that would promote the condensation of either propanoic acid or MeP with formaldehyde is explored. Since C–C bond forming reactions which proceed via C–H activation pathways typically display high atom efficiency, our efforts were particularly focussed on employing a functionalisation strategy that is mediated by C–H activation. In the case of propanoic acid, the possibility of achieving regioselective α-methylenation by linking the substrate to phosphorus was evaluated. Thus, a series of acyloxyphosphines and acylphosphites derived from either propionic acid or phenylacetic acid was prepared and, where stability allowed, fully characterised. Some of the resultant simple mixed anhydrides posed problems relating to their stability, and the stabilisation of such ligand systems by using electronic and / or steric effects was therefore explored. In addition, the coordination chemistry and in solution behaviour of Rh(I) and Ru(II) complexes containing these ligands was examined. Similar to the free ligands, complexes derived from these mixed anhydrides rearranged in solution via a number of decomposition pathways, with the specific pathway dependent on the nature of the auxiliary ligands. For most of these complexes, however, ligand decarbonylation was the route of preference for decomposition. Despite the instability of these complexes, a selection of Rh(I) mixed anhydride complexes were assessed for their potential as C-H activation catalysts in reactions aimed at the α-methylenation of saturated carboxylic acids. Furthermore, the stabilisation of Rh(I) mixed anhydride complexes with chelating auxilary ligands, such as bisphosphines or N-substituted diphosphinoamines, was explored. In particular, a series of new Rh(I) mixed anhydride complexes containing dppe, dppb and dppbz as secondary ligands were prepared and the effects of these secondary ligands on the in solution stability of these complexes assessed. As MeP represents the final product in the first stage of the Alpha process and not propanoic acid, the utilisation of PNP iridium pincer complexes in the regioselective sp³ C–H activation of MeP and related esters was also examined. The factors that govern the regioselectivity of such reactions were of great interest to us and, in particular, the effects of water on the reactivity and regioselectivity of these reactions were explored. For MeP, preferential C–H activation of the methoxy group was found to proceed under anhydrous conditions and the catalytic functionalisation of this site with ethene using this activation approach was considered. Formaldehyde, employed in the second stage of the Alpha process, is a difficult substance to manufacture and handle, especially on a large scale. A preliminary study on the in situ production of anhydrous formaldehyde via the catalytic dehydrogenation of methanol was therefore performed. During this study, catalytic systems based on carbonate salts and / or transition metal complexes were considered. In the hope of reducing the number of steps required in the production of MMA, a new one-pot cascade reaction for the indirect α-methylenation of MeP with methanol was developed. Although the production of MMA using this system only proceeded with low efficiency, the obtained results serve as an important proof of concept for future developments in this area. Finally, the capacity of a series of simple bases to catalyse the condensation of MeP with formaldehyde was assessed as part of a fundamental study directed towards determining the factors that govern the efficiency of this reaction. In addition, the extent to which each base effects the deprotonation in the α-position of MeP was determined with the aid of deuterium labelling experiments. Similarly, using sodium propanoate as model base a rough estimate of the kinetics of deprotonation could be made based on the degree of deuterium incorporation over time. These studies suggested that the low efficiency of this condensation reaction is not caused by ineffective deprotonation but rather by the weak nucleophilicity of the generated carbanion. For this reason, attempts to increase the electrophilicity of formaldehyde through Mannich-type condensations reactions involving secondary amine and carboxylic acid additives were made.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The synthesis of new compounds alkyl 3-azolyl propanoate e alkyl 3-azolyl propanoic acid structurally analogues to gamma-aminobutiric acid (GABA) is reported. One more time using the acetal acylation method, now the acetal derivative of 4-oxopentanoic acid (levulinic acid), the methyl 4,4- dimethoxypentanoate, were obtained the precursors methyl 7,7,7-trifluoro[chloro]-4- methoxy-6-oxo-heptenoates, 1,3-dieletrophilic precursor with alcanoate substituent. Are presented efficient and regioespecific synthetic routes from reactions of cyclocondensation [3+2] among 1,3-dieletrofilic precursors with hydroxylamine and different hydrazines, until training isoxazoles and pyrazoles, functionalized with the side chain alkyl propanoate or propanoic acid. Simultaneously to the formation of heterocycles, were studied the hydrolysis reaction of trichloromethyl group and transesterification reaction of methyl propanoate, in the same reactional medium. All products are novel, presenting a good to excellent yields, high purity and the structures were assigned by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectrometry. / A síntese de novos compostos 3-azolil-propanoatos de alquila e 3-azolilácidos propanóicos, análogos estruturalmente ao ácido gama-aminobutírico (GABA) é relatada. Novamente aplicando o método de acilação de acetais, agora ao acetal derivado do ácido 4-oxopentanóico (ácido levulínico), o 4,4-dimetoxipentanoato de metila, foram obtidos os precursores 7,7,7-triflúor[cloro]-4-metoxi-6-oxo-heptenoatos de metila, precursores 1,3-dieletrofílicos com o substituinte alcanoato. São apresentadas rotas sintéticas eficientes e regioespecíficas a partir de reações de ciclocondensação [3+2] entre os precursores 1,3-dieletrofílicos, com hidroxilamina e hidrazinas diferentes, até a formação de isoxazóis e pirazóis, funcionalizados com a cadeia lateral propanoato de alquila ou ácido propanóico. Simultaneamente à formação dos heterociclos, foram estudadas as reações de hidrólise do grupamento triclorometila e hidrólise ou transesterificação do propanoato de metila, no mesmo meio de reação. Todos os produtos obtidos são inéditos, apresentando rendimentos de bons a excelentes e pureza alta e suas estruturas foram atribuídas por RMN1H e 13C e por espectrometria de massas.