Call number: LD2668 .T4 1965 H77 / Master of Science

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1986.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005.

Swerilactones and related natural products were isolated from the plant Swertia mileensis and related species from the Gentianacea family. All members have shown moderate bioactivity in a hepatitis B virus assay. Despite their appealing framework and bioactivity, to date no syntheses of these compounds have been reported in the literature. All members of the natural products family display a polycyclic framework, containing lactone-pyran fused bicyclic subunits, and are heavily oxygenated. En route to swerilactones A and B, featuring a complex pentacyclic (6/6/6/6) ring system, the successful syntheses of two key building blocks for studies of a biomimetic [4+2] cycloaddition have been accomplished. The challenges associated with the design of a novel synthesis of a 2H-pyran diene are presented and ultimately relied on a Saucy-Marbet rearrangement of a propargyl vinyl ether. Reactivity studies for the 2H-pyran have shown thermal normal demand and photoinduced, radical cation [4+2] cycloadditions are Diels-Alder modes of choice, whereas inverse demand pathways were unproductive. Synthetic routes to obtain carboxylate and various enol ether substituted dienophilic lactones are also outlined. They relied on a unified strategy, comprised of the rapid assembly of a β-brominated sorbate derivative via cross-couplings and final oxa-6π electrocyclization as an original ring closure strategy. Our attempts at coupling the 2H-pyran intermediate with the dienophilic lactones to access the core structure of swerilactones A and B, leveraging our preliminary reactivity studies are presented in detail. In addition, alternatives strategies to assemble the core structures of swerilactones A and B are described, along with our efforts (and potential routes) toward related members of this family of natural products.

The importance of fluorinated organic molecules has grown over the last 50 years, particularly in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Therefore the development of new methods for fluorination is a very attractive research area. In Chapter 1, the properties and impact of the fluorine atom on organic molecules are overviewed. Existing electrophilic and nucleophilic fluorination methods are reviewed, and new developments in asymmetric fluorination are discussed. The emergence of the Prins fluorination reaction as a side product in BF₃.OEt₂ catalysed processes has been investigated as a synthesis method in Chapter 2. Indeed, it is possible to form 4-fluorotetrahydropyrans with some diastereoselectivity from an allylic alcohol and an aldehyde with a stoichiometric amount of BF₃.OEt₂. During this study, formation of 4-fluoropiperidines from N-tosyl-4-butenylamine was achieved. Optimisation of reaction conditions was investigated such as the solvent, the reaction temperature and the influence of substituents on the alcohol and the aldehyde reagents. A ring-opening reaction of 4-fluoro-2-phenyltetrahydropyran was successfully performed. Both oxa-Prins and aza-Prins fluorination reactions were investigated under microwave conditions, allowing reduced reaction times, a process that had a minimum impact on the diastereoselectivity. Attempt to form γ-hydroxy-α-vinylfluorides by the reduction-fluorination of propargylic alcohols with aluminium hydride, or by Horner-Emmons reaction with diethyl (fluoromethyl)phosphonate are reported in Chapter 3. Unfortunately these approaches were unsuccessful in the preparation of γ-hydroxy-α-vinylfluorides. Attempts to fluorinate epoxides by α-lithiation and then treatment with electrophilic fluorination reagents gave encouraging results, but the products could not be purified and characterised due to an apparent instability.

Nos travaux de thèse portent sur la mise au point de nouvelles méthodes de synthèse permettant l’accès de façon rapide et efficace à différents dérivés pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidiniques diversement fonctionnalisés.La première partie de ce travail concerne l’étude et l’application de la condensation de la pyran-2-one avec les 5(3)-amino-3(5)-arylpyrazoles que ce soit par chauffage classique ou sous irradiation micro-onde. Par la suite, un nouveau procédé d’(hétéro)arylation pallado-catalysé direct régiosélectif a été mis à profit pour élaborer des pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines fonctionnalisées tant en position 3 que sur le méthyle situé sur le sommet 7 de la 5,7-diméthylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine.Le dernier volet de ce mémoire a été consacré à la préparation des entités pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidiniques substituées en position 7 par des motifs benzyliques et ce, via une procédure « one-pot », sous irradiation micro-onde, constituée d’une réaction d’arylation directe pallado-catalysée suivie d’une saponification-décarboxylation. / Our thesis works concern the development of new methods of synthesis allowing a rapid and effective access to variously functionalized pyrazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidines derivatives.First, we were explored the study and the application of the condensation of the pyran-2 one with 5(3)-amino-3 (5)-arylpyrazoles whether it is by classic heating or under microwaves. Indeed, we have described the first example of the direct and regioselective palladium-catalyzed (hetero)arylation of 5,7-dimethylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, the reaction may be inducted to occur at either an sp2 or an sp3 carbon atom.The last part of this report was dedicated to the preparation of some 7-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines via a one-pot two steps palladium-catalyzed direct CH-arylation followed by a saponification-decarboxylation.

No / 4-Chloro-2(H)-pyran-2-one undergoes thermal Diels−Alder cycloaddition with electron-deficient dienophiles to afford, without any significant selectivity, 6-endo- and 5-endo-substituted bicyclic lactone cycloadducts. In contrast to 3- and 5-bromo-2(H)-pyran-2-one, 4-chloro-2(H)-pyran-2-one does not undergo thermal cycloadditions with electron-rich dienophiles. The regio- and stereochemical preferences of the cycloadditions of 4-chloro-2(H)-pyran-2-one and other related 2(H)-pyran-2-ones are investigated computationally. Calculations were carried out on the transition states leading to the four possible regio- and stereoisomeric cycloadducts using density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31G*). These studies allow prediction of the regio- and stereoselectivity in these reactions which are in line with experimental observations.

Dans ce travail, de nombreux hétérocycles porteurs d’un groupement CF3 ou C2F5 ont été décrits : des cétals, des benzo[1,3]dixoles, des pyran-2H-ones, des isocoumarines, des benzofuranes et des indolo[2,3-c]pyran-1-ones. Ces hétérocycles représentent une classe importante de produits biologiquement actifs. L’hydroalkoxylation intermoléculaire des dérivés du 4,4,4-perfluorobut-2-ynoate d’éthyle en présence d’une quantité catalytique de sodium métallique dans des conditions simples et douces a permis la synthèse de cétals fluorés d’une manière totalement régiosélective. La méthodologie a été étendue par la suite aux dérivés phénols pour préparer ,dans un premier temps, stériosélectivement des éthers d’énols. Des benzofuranes fluorées ont été synthétisées par la suite par cyclisation de quelques éthers vinyliques dans les conditions de Heck. Dans les mêmes conditions et en utilisant des dérivés du catéchol, nous avons réalisé des synthèses totalement régiosélective des hétérocycles de type : benzo[1,3]dioxoles, benzo[1,3]oxazoles et benzo[1,3]oxothiazoles. l’hydrocarboxylation du 4,4,4-perfluorobut-2-ynoate d’éthyle en utilisant des dérivés de l’acide 2-iodobenzoïque suivi d’une cyclisation intramoléculaire de manière ‟one-potˮ utilisant des sels de cuivres (II) nous a permis d’accéder régiosélectivement aux isocoumarines porteuses d’un groupement fluoroalkyle. Cette réaction a été étendue par la suite à la série hétéroaromatique faisant appel aux dérivés indoliques porteurs d’une fonction acide en positions 2 et d’un atome d’iode en position 3. Cette approche a permis de synthétiser de nouveaux hétérocycles fluorés à savoir des indolo[2,3-c]pyran-1ones. Nous avons exploité aussi une partie de potentiel offert par les structures énynoates synthétisées pour synthétiser des pyran-2H-ones originales porteuses d’un groupement fluoroalkyle par une stratégie d’iodolactonisation. Les réactions du couplage de type Sonogashira ont permis la synthèse d’une diversité d’alpha pyrones. / Fluorinated heterocyclic compounds can be found among potent pharmaceuticals,crop protection agents, and products of technical importance. This mergingarea of organic, heterocyclic, and fluoroorganic chemistry is still rapidly growing andin the past decades a large number of fluorinated heterocyclic materials have been discovered. In this work, an efficient and original method was developed for the synthesis of 3,3-dialkoxy propionate bearing a perfluoroalkyl group in b-position from fluorinated alkyne and alcohols using base-catalyzed double Michael addition reaction. This method provides easy access to a-perfluoro ketals with reasonable to good yields with total regioselectivity. This procedure was extended to the phenol derivatives, and a fluorinated enol ether derivatives were selectively synthesized. The use of catechol and derivative allowed the synthesis of fluorinated heterocycles such as benzo[1,3]dioxoles, benzo[1,3]oxazoles and benzo[1,3]oxothiazoles. Copper-catalyzed annulation of aromatic and heteroaromatic b-iodo-a,b-unsaturated carboxylic acids with fluorinated alkyne 1 was developed. This strategy offers a simple and efficient route for the synthesis of isocoumarins and indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-ones. This family of compounds are known to have various biological properties; indolo[2,3-c]pyrane-1-one derivatives exhibit anti-cancer potential towards human cervix adenocarcinoma and antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity. Fluorinated pyrane-2H-ones bearing an iodine atom in position 5 have been also described. The a-pyrones constitute an important class of biologically active compounds.