<p> Affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) is a versatile technique for assessing non-covalent molecular interactions in free solution provided that there are significant changes in apparent analyte mobility as a result of specific complexation. The thermodynamics of receptor binding are vital for controlling the selectivity in molecular recognition, which are dependent on the electrolyte composition of solution. In addition, the conformational properties of the complex (e.g., size, shape) can also contribute a secondary influence on receptor selectivity that has been relatively unexplored in ACE to date. In this study, dynamic 1:1 host-guest inclusion complexation involving a anionic resorcin[4]arene with a group of neutral corticosteroids was examined by ACE, where the macrocycle serves as both an intrinsic buffer and electrokinetic host. The tetraethylsulphonate derivative of 2-methylresorcin[4]arene (TESMR) was first synthesized via an acid-catalyzed condensation reaction, which was then fully characterized in terms of its weak acidity (pKa), mobility, UV spectral and buffer capacity properties. TESMR solutions were demonstrated to have stable intrinsic buffer and ion transport properties at pH 7.5 even at low ionic strength. It was determined that over a 200 % enhancement in the apparent binding constant (KB) was realized by ACE when using TESMR as an intrinsic buffer at pH 7.5 relative to an extrinsic sodium phosphate buffer system, which was also confirmed by 1H-NMR. The coupling of thermodynamic (KB) and electrokinetic (μep, AC) factors associated with complex formation in buffered aqueous solutions that minimize the effects of extrinsic electrolytes serves to enhance enthalpy-driven molecular recognition processes by ACE.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Cette thèse présente la synthèse de ligands originaux construits sur des plateformes coniques de type résorcin[4]arène ou calix[4]arène étant susceptibles de positionner un métal à proximité d'une unité réceptrice: a) des bis-binaphtylphosphites optiquement actifs dont les centres phosphorés ont été greffés sur le bord supérieur de cavités génériques. Ces coordinats ont été testés en hydroformylation asymétrique d’arènes vinyliques et ont conduit à une sélectivité iso très élevée avec de bons, voire très bons excès énantiomériques; b) des carbènes N- hétérocycliques ayant soit un, soit les deux atomes d'azote substitués par des unités résorcinarényle (variante cavitand) et leur utilisation pour la formation d'espèces comportant un centre métallique supramoléculairement piégé dans la partie cavitaire (complexes du type [NiXCpL] (X = Br ou Cl, Cp = cyclopentadiényle, LH = NHC). Ces complexes se sont avérés efficaces en dimérisation de l'éthylène; c) des carbènes N-hétérocyliques anormaux obtenus à partir de sels de triazolium comportant un ou deux substituants résorcinarène. Ces composés à fort encombrement ont été efficacement employés en couplage croisé de Suzuki-Miyaura entre des chlorures d'aryles volumineux et des acides arylboroniques stériquement encombrés. Les activités les plus importantes ont été obtenues avec le sel de triazolium stériquement le moins encombré, celui portant un seul substituant résorcinarène. Sa plus grande efficacité est due à une approche plus facile des substrats dans les intermédiaires catalytiques correspondants ainsi que de la présence de groupes pentyles flexibles pouvant interagir stériquement avec le centre métallique de manière à faciliter l'étape d'élimination réductrice / This thesis describes the synthesis of a series of compounds built on conical resorcin[4]arene and calix[4]arene platforms: a) diphosphites derived from optically active binol, in which the phosphite moieties have been grafted to the wider rim of the generic cones. These ligands were assessed in asymmetric hydroformylation of vinyl arenes and led to high iso selectivity with good to excellent enantiomeric excess; b) N-heterocyclic carbenes bearing either one or two cavitand moieties and their use for the synthesis of [NiXCpL] complexes (X = Br or Cl, Cp = cyclopentadienyl, LH = NHC) in which the NiCp moiety has been supramolecularly trapped in a resorcinarene bowl. These complexes were found active in ethylene dimerization; c) bulky triazolium salts with one or two resorcinarene substituents that were found suitable for the synthesis of complexes with abnormal NHCs. The latter were tested in palladium-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of bulky aryl chlorides with sterically hindered aryl boronic acids. Better activities were observed with the sterically less hindered triazolium salt, which bears a single resorcinarene substituent. Its higher efficiency arises from a higher substrate accessibility in the resulting catalytic intermediates as well as the presence of flexible pentyl groups that may interact with the metal centre so as to facilitate the reductive elimination step.