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Chiral alpha-branched amines are common substructures of bioactive synthetic targets such as alkaloids and amino acids. Direct asymmetric amine synthesis by addition to the C=N bond of carbonyl imino derivatives is promising and efficient to introduce the stereogenic center and carbon-carbon bond in one step. Furthermore, disconnection of either C-C bond at the amine stereogenic center would be the most versatile method to achieve this objective; we could make the choice depending on the different synthetic strategies, such as the availability of precursors and the presence of complicating structural features. In our group, we disclosed that manganese carbonyl mediates stereoselective photolytic radical addition of alkyl iodides to chiral imino acceptors, which is a powerful tool to form a new C-C bond and generate a chiral center. Qualitative mechanistic studies confirm the importance of free radicals, imply that this is a nonchain (or short chain length) free-radical process, and reveal that organomanganese compounds are not a viable source of alkyl radical for the addition reactions under the conditions in our lab. In my thesis, we have extended the application of our methodology. At the beginning of my research, our Mn-mediated addition methodology was first applied to accomplish the couplings of iodides and ketone N-acylhydrazones, generating quaternary carbon stereocenters and offering access to a variety of alpha-alkylated alanine analogs. These radical additions complement enolate alkylation methodologies, as they occur under nonbasic conditions and permit introduction of both primary and secondary alkyl groups with relative ease. The versatility with respect to the iodide is a distinguishing feature of the Mn-mediated coupling that foreshadows application to more complex targets. Secondly, a Mn-mediated radical-ionic annulation strategy was validated as a synthetic route to quinine. Intermolecular radical addition to C=N bonds has rarely been applied as a strategic bond construction in natural product synthesis; this synthesis of quinine offers the strongest demonstration yet of the utility of such reactions in application toward complex multifunctional targets.

The design, synthesis and characterization of novel conjugated polymers are described. Using a coupling reaction recently developed within our labs, polymers were constructed through triazene linkages generated by joining N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) with organic azides. This triazene reaction produced polymer of sufficiently high molecular weight as to be spin-coated and rendered conductive upon doping with iodine. The reaction also has potential for executing post-polymerization modifications. This was evidenced through rapid functionalization of poly(4-methylazido-styrene) via triazene formation using a commercially available N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC). A formal anion metathesis of benzobis(imidazolium)s was used to transform neutral block copolymers into block ionomers. Further investigation of the block ionomers revealed their solvent mediated self assembly. The gradual change of organic to aqueous media caused the adoption of a three-dimensional micelle conformation as determined by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Through the exploitation of carbene-carbon disulfide adducts, new chain transfer agents were generated. After 2-dithiocarboxylate-imidazolium adduct formation, alkylation was performed with benzyl bromide. The resulting charged chain transfer agent was tested for its ability to moderate radical addition fragmentation (RAFT) polymerizations of styrene. A considerable increase in transfer kinetics as compared to that of commonly used RAFT agents was observed whilst retaining low polydispersity and molecular weight control. The rate enhancement is presumably due to the electron withdrawing imidazolium activating the thionyl towards the nucleophilic radical while retaining effective fragmentation. Ion coordinating macrocycles were affixed to a poly(methacrylate) scaffold for employment as electrolyte extractants. Polymer bound calix[4]pyrrole was found to complex fluoride and chloride with sufficient strength as to extract tetrabutylammonium salts from water. Enhanced extraction abilities were observed when calix[4]pyrrole was used in conjunction with benzo-15-crown-5. Methacrylate polymers containing both macrocycles affected the removal of aqueous potassium fluoride from a biphasic water/dichloromethane mixture. To provide evidence for the presence of potassium fluoride within the dichloromethane layer, ¹⁹F NMR and flame emission spectroscopy were used. / text

La réactivité de l’α-bromoacrylate d’éthyle et du benzylidène malonate d’éthyle vis à vis des dialkylzincs en milieu aérobie a été étudiée afin d’évaluer la capacité des radicaux α-alcoxycarbonyle tertiaires à évoluer par SH2 sur le métal pour conduire à un énolate de zinc. Le travail expérimental réalisé à partir de l’α-bromoacrylate d’éthyle a permis la synthèse de cyclopropanes et de céto-esters. Dans le cas des benzylidène malonates la réversibilité de l’addition du diéthylzinc sur le substrat, a été mise en évidence. L’effet inhibiteur d’additifs tels que TMSCl ou CuCl concourt à indiquer que les peroxydes de zinc formés dans le milieu pourraient y tenir un rôle clé. L’étude théorique a mis en évidence pour les 2 substrats étudiés, le rôle crucial de la stabilisation de l’énolate formé sous la forme d’un chélate à 5 ou 6 chaînons. Les carbozincations d’ynamides via le CuI ou le FeCl2 en présence de dialkylzincs ont été étudiées pour la synthèse régio-et stéréosélective d'énamides tri- ou tétrasubstitués. Le CuI s’est montré plus performant et moins substrat-dépendant que FeCl2. Une étude théorique a été réalisée afin de mieux comprendre ce phénomène. Enfin, l'addition intermoléculaire des radicaux sulfanyle sur les ynamides a été revisitée. Les calculs théoriques et les résultats expérimentaux montrent que la régio- et stéréosélectivité de la réaction dépendent de la nature du substituant porté par le carbone en β de l’atome d’azote et des conditions expérimentales. L’addition intermoléculaire inédite d’un radical carboné électrophile sur ces substrats a pu être décrite et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives quant à la synthèse d’énamides tétrasubstitués originaux. / The reactivity of ethyl α-bromoacrylate and ethyl benzylidene malonate towards dialkylzincs in aerobic medium was studied in order to evaluate the capacity of tertiary α-alcoxycarbonyl radicals to undergo SH2 at zinc leading to a zinc enolate. The use of ethyl α-bromoacrylate allowed the synthesis of cyclopropanes and keto-esters. With the second substrate, the addition of the alkyl group was shown to be reversible. The inhibitor effect of additives like TMSCl or CuCl suggested that zinc peroxydes formed in situ could play a key role in the process. Theoretical studies highlighted the crucial role of the stabilization of the zinc enolate through the formation of a 5 or 6-membered chelate. Regio- and stereoselective synthesis of tri- and tetra-substituted enamides was achieved through the carbozincation of ynamides in the presence of dialkylzincs and CuI or FeCl2 as catalyst. CuI was shown to be more efficient and less substrate-dependent than FeCl2. Molecular modelings were performed to better understand this phenomen. Finally, intermolecular addition of sulfanyl radicals onto ynamides was revisited. Theoretical calculations and experimental results showed that the regio- and stereo-selectivity of the process depended on the nature of the substituent on the carbon in β position of the nitrogen atom and on experimental conditions. Unprecedented intermolecular addition of a carbon-centered radical has been described and opened new perspectives for the synthesis of original tetrasubstituted enamides.

Project I Celogentin C, isolated by Kobayashi from the seeds of Celosia argentea in 2001 exhibits strong inhibitory behavior towards polymerization of tubulin – globular protein, which plays crucial role during the cell division cycle. We have attempted synthesis of the left-hand ring of celogentin C via the intramolecular alkylation and the Knoevenagel condensation strategies. Utilizing synthetic methodologies in the field of nitroacetyl chemistry, developed by Kornblum and Rajappa we have successfully prepared the intermolecular Knoevenagel condensation product – the late-stage precursor to the left-hand ring of celogentin C. Synthesis of this key intermediate subsequently led to the preparation of the left-hand ring and the total synthesis of celogentin C by other members of Castle's group. Project II Thioviridamide is the potent apoptosis inducer isolated by Hayakawa from the bacterial broth of Streptomyces olivoviridis. Unusual structural features of the thioviridamide macrocycle contain two novel amino acids, never before encountered in a natural product - S-(2-aminovinyl)cysteine (avCys) and β-hydroxy-N1,N3-dimethylhistidinium (hdmHis). No stereochemical information except for the Z-configuration of the β-thioenamide linkage was reported in the literature. We have performed a computational study to predict the thioviridamide stereochemistry. Initial populations of conformers for the likely candidate structures were produced using OPLS-AA force field. Prediction of the NMR properties was accomplished at the mPW1PW91/6-311+G(2d,p) level of theory with the polarizable continuum model of salvation. Utilizing Boltzmann averaging and statistical analysis we have determined that the only possible cases of stereochemical inversion occur at the sites of the two novel amino acids. Project III Model studies towards the synthesis of the β-thioenamide subunit of thioviridamide were performed. The radical addition reaction of thiyl radicals to ynamides produces Z- (kinetic products) or E- β-thioenamides (thermodynamic products) depending on the reaction conditions. Two distinct sets of reaction conditions allowing kinetic or thermodynamic control of β-thioenamide formation were developed. Synthesis of the model β-thioenamide subunit of thioviridamide was attempted.

The covalent bond formed between a N-heterocyclic carbene and an aryl-isothiocyanate was discovered to be thermally-reversible. This bond was incorporated into the backbone of an aromatic polymer which, when subjected to heat and excess monomer, would depolymerize to smaller oligomers. In addition these small molecules contain active chain ends and could be repolymerized to reform the original polymer. The high molecular weight material was made into freestanding sheets with desirable mechanical properties and could be made conductive by treatment with iodine. A new poly(triazene) was formed from the reaction of a facially opposed, annulated, bis-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and an organic bis-azide. The NHC as well as the azide were varied and combined to produce a series of polymers which were characterized by GPC, TGA, and NMR. These thermally robust polymers were also coated onto glass slides and rendered electrically conductive by exposure to iodine vapor. A new reagent for Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization (RAFT) is described. This imidazolium based reagent shows unusually fast kinetics which allows it to control polymerizations at significantly reduced loadings compared to the more traditional neutral dithiocarbamates or dithioesters. The fast kinetics is explained by the rapid rotation of the dithioester about the plane of the cationic N-heterocycle. Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) membranes were blended with imidazoles with varying pKas. The proton conductivity of the membranes was evaluated as a function of pKa and temperature. Interestingly, the conductivity of the dry membranes showed a non-monotonous profile over a temperature range of 25 – 150 C. We use a theoretical model to better understand the mechanistic origins of the observed temperature–conductivity profiles. This model is based on the reaction equilibria between sPEEK’s sulfonic acid groups and the basic sites of the added heterocycles. Using the copper-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar “click” cycloaddition reaction, poly(sulfone)s containing pendant azide moieties were functionalized with various amounts of sodium 3-(prop-2-ynyloxy)propane-1-sulfonate and crosslinked with 1,7-octadiyne. The degree of sulfonation as well as the degree of cross-linking was systematically varied by changing the ratios of the aforementioned reagents. The polymers were cast into membranes, acidified, and then tested for proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) performance. / text

L'objectif de la thèse est d'expérimenter et de valider de nouvelles voies d'exfoliation des feuillets de graphène dans des élastomères de type silicone (PDMS) et des thermoplastiques de type polyéthylène (PE). Ce projet s'appuie sur des étapes de modifications chimiques des feuillets de graphite oxydé (GO) dont la polarité initiale n'offre pas une compatibilité satisfaisante avec les matrices étudiées. Différentes approches ont été explorées : la synthèse du GO greffé PDMS a été réalisée avec succès par greffage directe d'un PDMS fonctionnalisé triéthoxysilane et par une réaction d'hydrosilylation catalytique de GO modifiés vinyltriméthoxysilane en présence de polyméthylhydrogénosiloxane. Une étude des propriétés viscoélastiques de suspensions de GO et GO modifié/PDMS a montré l'importance de l'interaction charge-charge sur la formation d'un réseau percolant. Le seuil de percolation rhéologique du GO a été obtenu à 1,75 %wt avec Af~60. En se basant sur le greffage radicalaire du pentadécane par abstraction d'atomes d'H par un peroxyde à haute température, il a été possible d'extrapoler cette réaction pour procéder au greffage d'un PE de faible masse molaire (Mn~2000). De plus, des PE fonctionnalisés thiol et azoture de Mn similaire ont aussi été greffés sur des dérivés du graphite par addition radicalaire et de Michael. Après sélection d'une charge présentant une conductivité en poudre proche du graphite et une bonne affinité pour les milieux alcanes, un nano-composite à base de PEBD présentant des propriétés électriques convenables pour une application de blindage électromagnétique (4.105 Ω.cm à 25%wt) a été réalisé et ceci sans utiliser d'agents réducteurs toxiques / The aim of this thesis was to experiment and validate new means of graphene exfoliation in an elastomer matrix such as silicone (PDMS) and a thermoplastic matrix such as polyethylene (PE). Because of the low affinity of graphene oxide for these matrices due to its high polarity, its chemical modification was carried out. Different approaches were explored: the grafting of PDMS onto GO was carried out with success by a direct functionalization with a PDMS terminated triethoxysilane and by a catalytic hydrosilation reaction of a PDMS terminated Si-H onto vinyltrimethoxysilane modified GO. The viscoelastic behavior of GO and modified GO/PDMS suspensions showed the importance of the filler-filler interaction on the formation of a percolating network. The rheological percolation threshold of the GO/PDMS suspension was obtained at ~1.75 wt% with an aspect ratio (Af) of ~60. In addition, the grafting of PE onto GO was studied with the high temperature radical grafting of pentadecane formed by a hydrogen atom abstraction with a peroxide, which was then extrapolated to a low molecular PE (Mn~2000). Moreover, thio and azide functionnalized PE with a similar Mn were also grafted onto graphite derivatives by a radical and a Michael addition. After choosing the filler which presented the closest electrical conductivity to the one of graphite powder and a good affinity for a heptane media, a LDPE based nano-composite that presented suitable electrical properties for an electromagnetic shielding application (4 105 Ω.cm at 25 wt%) was obtained and this without any use of toxic reducing agents

Thesis advisor: James P. Morken / This dissertation details the discovery, development, and mechanistic exploration of several enantioselective processes involving organoboronic esters. The first chapter will discuss electrophile-induced metallate rearrangement reactions, the fundamental reactivity that underlies much of the subsequently discussed work. The second chapter details the discovery and mechanistic study of the metal-induced metallate rearrangement reaction and the multi-component conjunctive coupling reaction manifold and related reactions it enables. The factors that govern the competition between metal-induced metallate rearrangement versus transmetallation will be explored. The third chapter will discuss efforts to understand and overcome the initial limitations of the conjunctive coupling reaction including halide inhibition of palladium catalysis and the inability to engage other organometallic reagents such as organomagnesium nucleophiles, and how this allowed the development of a more general reaction. The fourth chapter discusses the development of an enantioselective triamine–nickel-catalyzed conjunctive coupling reaction of alkyl electrophiles as well as a related nickel-promoted radical-polar crossover reaction and the mechanistic features leading to one reaction manifold or the other. A related enantioselective diamine–nickel-catalyzed tandem radical addition cross coupling reaction of alkyl iodides, alkenylboron reagents, and alkyl- or arylzinc reagents will also be discussed. The fifth chapter will cover the discovery of a diamine–nickel-catalyzed enantioselective carbozincation reaction of alkenylboron compounds which produces enantioenriched α-boryl alkylzinc reagents. The mechanistic investigations undertaken and application of these species in a variety of stereospecific transformation will be discussed along with the preliminary discovery and optimization of a diphosphine-Pd-catalyzed stereoconvergent Negishi cross-coupling reaction of racemic α-boryl alkylzinc reagents. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2019. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science Department of Organic Chemistry Ing. Yana Chernykh Sulfur-Based Reagents for Nucleophilic and Radical Introduction of Tetrafluoroethyl and Tetrafluoroethylene Groups Ph.D. Thesis Prague 2014 ABSTRACT This project was aimed at developing new methodologies for selective introduction of tetrafluoroethyl and tetrafluoroethylene groups into organic molecules. The study was focused on reactivities of fluorinated sulfones and sulfides as tetrafluoroalkylation reagents. In the Introduction part of the thesis, main aspects of organofluorine chemistry are outlined, illustrating beneficial effects of fluorine atoms on physical, chemical and biological properties of organic compounds. General synthetic methods for the selective introduction of fluorine atoms and fluoroalkyl groups to organic molecules are described. Particular attention is given to reactivity and applications of CF2CF2-containing compounds, indicating challenges in synthetic approaches toward tetrafluoroalkylation. The Results and discussion part describes reactivities of four new fluorinated organosulfur reagents as tetrafluoroethyl and tetrafluoroethylene building blocks. The application of these reagents as various carbanionic or radical synthons proved to be effective for the incorporation of CF2CF2...