This thesis describes the development of a synthetic route towards daphlongeranine B, an alkaloid isolated from the fruits of Daphniphyllum longeracemosum, by utilising an intramolecular Michael addition to form its unique tricyclic core. <strong>Chapter 1</strong> gives a general introduction to the family of Daphniphyllum alkaloids together with some recent examples, from the literature, illustrating some synthetic attempts towards structurally similar alkaloids. This chapter also features our retrosynthetic analysis of daphlongeranine B. <strong>Chapter 2</strong> details the synthesis of the model spirocyclic enone 72 which was the vital building block needed to investigate the key intramolecular Michael addition. This key reaction was then successfully validated and access to the unique tricyclic core 64 of daphlongeranine B was made possible. <strong>Chapter 3</strong> expands the scope of the key intramolecular Michael addition step. This chapter first describes a synthetic route to the Î2-substituted spirocyclic enone 112 and subsequently validates the key intramolecular Michael addition step to give the tricyclic core 138 of daphlongeranine B. <strong>Chapter 4</strong> details a synthetic route towards the spirocyclic fragment 141 by utilising a Baker's yeast reduction and a tandem addition/cyclisation reaction.

Iminosugars are carbohydrate mimics, where the endocyclic ring oxygen has been replaced by nitrogen. This substitution affords these compounds their inhibitory activity towards sugar-processing enzymes (glycosidases) and, as a consequence, their chemotherapeutic potential in the treatment of a broad range of diseases. Several iminosugars are currently in clinical trials or have entered the market as approved drugs. This has consequently led to increasing levels of research into their synthesis and application, both in terms of the development of efficient methodology to access naturally occurring examples, and also to elaborate novel scaffolds. The presence of multiple chiral centres within iminosugars provides a considerable challenge in accessing these targets by asymmetric means, whereas carbohydrates pose a more attractive chiral pool. As such the majority of literature methods have employed this latter method. The focus of the thesis is on the elaboration of robust methodologies to access both naturally occurring and novel iminosugars, and their precursors, from readily available carbohydrate starting materials. Chapter 1 presents an introduction to iminosugars, including an overview of glycosidase inhibition by this class of sugar-mimic, their historical medical usage and the basis for their potential employment in treating diabetes, lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) and cancer. This chapter also gives a general review of the methods employed in the literature for the assembly of iminosugar scaffolds. Chapter 2 is concerned with the synthesis of iminosugars from the carbohydrate glucuronolactone. This versatile chiron has previously allowed for access to many homochiral targets, and in this thesis is used to access DGJNAc on a gram-scale. This iminosugar has been shown to be a potent α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase inhibitor and is potentially extremely valuable in the treatment of late-stage cancer. Both enantiomers of glucuronolactone are also utilised in the divergent synthesis of every stereoisomer of two classes of five-membered iminosugars; the pyrrolidines (including DMDP), and the proline amides. These compounds demonstrate remarkable biological activity against a panel of glycosidases and hexosaminidases, allowing for the analysis of the structure-activity relationship between these compounds and the target enzymes. Chapter 3 describes the development of a novel, one-pot methodology - a tandem Strecker reaction and iminocyclisation - for the assembly of trihydroxy piperidine α-iminonitriles from a range of unbranched and branched pentose monosaccharides. These piperidine α-iminonitriles are precursors to pipecolic acids which may also be potentially valuable targets in the treatment of cancer.

This work describes developments in new azetidine and azetine chemistry; specifically, methods developed for the introduction of functionality α- to nitrogen in both ring systems, with additionally in situ formation of the latter system, from azetidine substrates. Chapter 1 discusses the growing importance of azetidines, and the current methods available for making substituted azetidines by ring formation. Further discussion comprises of current sp³ C–H activation approaches α- to nitrogen in heterocyclic compounds as potential methods for sp³ C–H activation on azetidines to give substituted azetidines. Previous work by the Hodgson group in this area is detailed. Chapter 2 describes the advance made towards 2,3-disubstituted azetidines using the thiopivaloyl protecting/activating group, where the latter plays a key role. Optimisation, scope, selectivity and mechanistic insight into the α-deprotonation–electrophile trapping of a 3-hydroxy azetidine system is discussed, which successfully gives access to a range of 3-hydroxy-2-substituted azetidines. Preliminary investigations with 3-alkyl-2-substituted azetidines are also described. Chapter 3 describes the development of a straightforward protocol to make 2-substituted-2- azetines, a rarely studied and difficult to access 4-membered azacycle subclass, from readily accessible azetidine starting materials using α-deprotonation–in situ elimination followed by further α-lithiation–electrophile trapping. Extension of this methodology by transmetallation from the intermediate organolithium to the organocuprate, resulting in greater electrophile scope, is also described.

Well-regulated Ca2+ signalling is essential for every living organism, and disruption of this signalling can lead to diseases including heart failure, neurological disorders and diabetes. Intracellular Ca2+ levels are regulated by influx of extracellular Ca2+ through channels located in the cell membrane. In addition, release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores also plays an important role in controlling intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Of the three types of intracellular Ca2+ stores that have been characterised those with D-myo-Inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate receptors (InsP3Rs) showed a close relationship with cell proliferation. Hence, selective blockage of InsP3Rs will allow better understanding of Ca2+ signalling and might also unveil novel treatment for cancers, in the long term. There were no selective InsP3Rs antagonists known at the start of these studies. Based on the crystal structure of InsP3Rs bound to InsP3 and SAR studies of InsP3, we designed and tested several InsP3 analogues.1 Compound 15, 16 and 23 acted as InsP3R antagonists, though their selectivity for InsP3Rs was not completely determined. Furthermore, we also attempted to improve the potency of 16 via substitution at the 1-postion phosphate. By considering the interaction formed between adenophosphostins and InsP3Rs compounds (53-55) were designed and synthesised. In addition, analogues of compound 92, selected from an in silico screen, have led to the discovery of another novel scaffold that acts as an InsP3R antagonist.

Manganese(III) acetate mediated radical cyclisations provide a mild and powerful tool in the construction of complex bicyclic systems. This thesis focuses on the formation of a number of alkenyl substituted [3.3.0]-bicyclic γ-lactones utilising a manganese(III) acetate/copper(II) triflate induced radical cyclisation. The methodology was then applied to a short catalytic and enantioselective synthesis of (+)-aphanamol I and related natural products. Chapter 1 presents a summary of the theories and methodology which will be utilised in this work. In particular, a key focus will revolve around oxidative radical cyclisations and how manganese(III) acetate has become a vital oxidant in such areas. Chapter 2 details a catalytic and asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-aphanamol I. Following an overview of the natural product and its previous total synthesis, a racemic and asymmetric total synthesis is presented which utilises a manganese(III) acetate mediated radical cyclisation and a Claisen ring expansion as key steps. Chapter 3 reports the synthesis and subsequent cyclisation of a wide range of dienyl malonate substrates. Variation of the γ-substituent is first explored, demonstrating the effect that substituent size has on the diastereoselectivity of the cyclisation. Following this, the synthesis of [2.3.0]-,[4.3.0]- and [5.3.0]- bicyclic γ-lactones are investigated. Chapter 4 describes studies towards the total synthesis of a dolabellane natural product. Investigations into substrate synthesis which can be used in a RCM will be presented. Full experimental details and spectral data, with select NMR spectra are also provided.

Benzylic fluorides are attractive target molecules for medicinal chemistry, agrochemicals and materials chemistry. The enantioselective synthesis of benzylic fluorides is challenging and few general methods exist. This thesis describes several approaches to the synthesis of benzylic fluoride targets, including enantioselective processes. Chapter 1: Reviews the properties, uses and synthetic approaches to fluorinated molecules, with a particular focus on benzylic fluorides and enantioselective syntheses. Chapter 2: Describes the fluorination cyclisation of prochiral indole precursors. The use of catalytic amounts of a bis-cinchona alkaloid gave good enantioselectivities for the cyclisation. Alcohol, tosylamine, amide and carbamate pendant nucleophiles all cyclised successfully to give quaternary benzylic fluorides in moderate yields and with enantioselectivities up to 92%. The substrate scope of the reaction is described, as well as methodology for deprotection of cyclised nitrogen nucleophiles. Chapter 3: Details an investigation of the Pd catalysed substitution of polycyclic benzylic fluorides by a range of nucleophiles and their relative reactivity in comparison to oxygen leaving groups. Modification of the methodology to enable reaction of monocyclic substrate substitution was enabled by the use of a protic solvent. Chemoselective reaction conditions were identified for selective reaction of Bn-F or Ar-Cl bonds and comparative reactivity studies were undertaken. The feasibility of Pd(0)/(II) catalysed nucleophilic C-F bond formation was examined. Chapter 4: The development of the defluorination methodology from Chapter 3 for secondary substrates is described. The stereochemical course of defluorination was probed, showing that displacement of fluoride is mechanistically similar to that of oxygen leaving groups. A kinetic resolution with a low selectivity was developed for access to enantioenriched benzylic fluorides.

Two photon absorption (TPA) is the near simultaneous absorption of two photons of light to achieve an electronically excited state. It has led to huge advances in microscopy and microfabrication due to its quadratic dependence on the local light intensity. This thesis describes the design, synthesis and application of dyes with strong TPA properties, and as such is divided into three chapters. The first introduces the theory and measurement of TPA as well as structure-property relationships known to maximise the efficiency of TPA. The subsequent chapters present explorations of the application of these dyes in biological applications; namely two-photon uncaging and two-photon photodynamic therapy. A recurring theme in my research is the discussion and evaluation of strategies for improving the compatibility of organic macromolecules with biological systems. Uncaging is the use of photolysis to achieve a rapid increase in the local concentration of a physiologically active species via a photoremovable protecting groups. Photoremovable protecting groups are covalently attached to the physiologically active species, thus rendering it inactive. At the desired time and location, a light dose releases the molecule in its active form. There are many compounds known to uncage following photoexcitation, but there are few examples of caging groups which exhibit both strong two-photon absorption properties and highly efficient uncaging. Chapter 2 discusses the rational design of such groups through the development of a new mechanism for uncaging, in which a photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) between a two-photon-excited electron donor and an electron acceptor/release group drives the uncaging event. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment for neoplastic disorders such as cancer in which localised cell death is induced through photoexcitation of a sensitiser. Following light absorption, the photosensitiser enters a relatively long-lived excited state which reacts with cellular oxygen to produce its highly cytotoxic singlet form. The main challenges of the field are to achieve deep penetration of light into tissue and to reduce coincident damage to unaffected tissue by light scattering during irradiation. In 2008, the Anderson group reported the development of PDT photosensitisers with highly efficient two-photon absorption as well as high singlet oxygen quantum yields. Chapter 3 discusses strategies for improving the pharmacokinetics and defining the sub-cellular localisation of these photosensitisers.

In this work, a new methodology for the synthesis of a number of silylated bicyclic dienes has been reported. These bicyclic dienes allowed access to a variety of enones and phenols in 2 further steps. The stabilities and reactivities of different dialkylisopropoxy silanes have been evaluated,revealing relative instability of the dimethylisopropoxy silyl group towards chromatography. When using the analogous diethylisopropoxy silyl group instead, the products showed greater stability towards chromatography, however a higher temperature was necessary to oxidise the more sterically hindered silyl group to the desired hydroxyl moiety. A powerful cascade cyclisation for the synthesis of the CDE-core of rubriflordilactone A was then demonstrated and was successfully used for the synthesis of two systems, 284 and 333. The phenolic oxygen has been successfully installed by oxidation of a dialkylisopropoxy silane. The synthesis of these ring systems provides a solid foundation for the completion of the total synthesis of rubriflordilactone A. Finally the synthesis of suitable diynes 405 for the synthesis of the acyclic precursor of the cyclisation has been achieved. The stabilities of theses silanes towards a range of reaction have been demonstrated.

Iminosugars are polyhydroxylated alkaloids, and can be generally defined as sugar mimetics in which the endocyclic oxygen atom has been replaced with a basic nitrogen. A common affect of this atomic substitution is to bestow these compounds with the ability to inhibit various sugarprocessing enzymes; most significantly the glycosidases (glycoside hydrolases) which areintimately involved in a huge array of biological functions. Compounds which inhibit these enzymes concordantly possess much potential as medicinal agents for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Several iminosugars have already achieved market approval as drugs, and many more are promising candidates in the late stages of clinical development. As such there remains considerable interest in this class of compound, both in terms of the exploration of novel iminosugar structures, as well as the continual development of more efficient general methodology for their synthesis. The densely-packed functionality and stereochemical information present in iminosugars makes them challenging targets for asymmetric chemical synthesis, whereas carbohydrates are clearly very attractive as chiral-pool starting materials for this purpose. Indeed, the majority of the most successful syntheses of iminosugars use the latter approach, and such is the focus of this thesis. Chapter 1 presents a relatively brief introduction to iminosugars, including their types of structure, natural occurrence and biological mode of action. The rationale behind their use as therapeutic agents for the treatment of some significant disease targets is also discussed. Chapter 2 is concerned with the preparation of a number of novel polyhydroxylated azetidines, and their evaluation as glycosidase inhibitors. Such compounds represent an almost entirely neglected class of iminosugars within the literature. An overview of natural and synthetic products incorporating an azetidine motif is given, as well as a brief review of preparative methods and known azetidine iminosugars. A highly efficient and flexible method for the key azetidine ring formation is demonstrated by the cyclisations of 3,5-di-O-triflates of pentoses and hexoses, and of a 2,4-di-O-triflate of glucose, with various primary amines. In this manner, many azetidine triols and tetrols were prepared in good yield. Furthermore, this process is readily adaptable to the installation of added functionality to the azetidine scaffold, as demonstrated by the preparation of 1-acetamido analogues. The initial biological screening of these compounds showed a promising array of glycosidase inhibition, including that of selective inhibition of fungal enzymes. Chapter 3 describes a strategy with which to prepare all sixteen stereoisomers of a known piperidine iminosugar, alpha-homonojirimycin (alpha-HNJ), in a highly divergent manner from just four of the possible thirty-two 6-azidoheptitols using traditional chemical synthesis in tandem with biotechnological transformations. One half of the execution of this strategy is described in this thesis. Two 6-azidoheptitols were prepared from D-mannose, thereby providing access to four 6-azidoketoheptoses through a combination of microbial oxidation and enzymatic epimerisation. Catalytic hydrogenation of these 6-azidoketoheptoses furnished four diastereomeric mixtures of 2,6-iminoheptitols, with varying degrees of stereoselectivity. Purification of these mixtures allowed six 2,6-iminoheptitols to be isolated, two of which have never previously been tested for glycosidase inhibition. Significantly, one of them was found to be a potent and highly selectiveinhibitor of alpha-galactosidases, and may therefore be of interest in the treatment of Fabry disease.

This thesis describes the development of robust methodology to access cyclic alkenylsiloxanes, and their subsequent application in Hiyama-Denmark cross couplings. An early chapter shows the identification of Lindlar reduction conditions capable of generating cyclic alkenylsiloxanes from alkynylsiloxanes in high yields. The use of such species in Hiyama-Denmark cross coupling is then examined, with particular emphasis on the development of fluoride-free conditions, previously unreported for this class of organosilane. A ring-size dependent orthogonality is revealed, where 5-membered cyclic alkenylsiloxanes cross couple under basic conditions, while 6-membered analogues are inert. The origins of this effect are investigated experimentally and theoretically, leading to the proposal of detailed mechanisms for coupling. In the final chapter, the methodology that has been developed is applied to total synthesis. The great potential of the orthogonality uncovered is demonstrated with the highly convergent construction of anti-inflammatory natural product resolvin D3 by sequential, one-pot, orthogonal cross couplings.