Mechanistic studies on three different ruthenium-based catalysts have been performed. The catalysts have in common that they have been employed in hydrogen transfer reactions involving alcohols and ketones, amines and imines or both. Bäckvall’s catalyst, η5-(Ph5C5)Ru(CO)2Cl, finds its application as racemization catalyst in dynamic kinetic resolution, where racemic alcohols are converted to enantiopure acetates in high yields. The mechanism of the racemization has been investigated and both alkoxide and alkoxyacyl intermediates have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and in situ FT-IR measurements. The presence of acyl intermediates supports a mechanism via CO assistance. Substantial support for coordination of the substrate during the racemization cycle is provided, including exchange studies with both external and internal potential ketone traps. We also detected an unexpected alkoxycarbonyl complex from 5-hydroxy-1-hexene, which has the double bond coordinated to ruthenium. Shvo’s catalyst, [Ru2(CO)4(μ-H)(C4Ph4COHOCC4Ph4)] is a powerful catalyst for transfer hydrogenation as well as for dynamic kinetic resolution. The mechanism of this catalyst is still under debate, even though a great number of studies have been published during the past decade. In the present work, the mechanism of the reaction with imines has been investigated. Exchange studies with both an external and an internal amine as potential traps have been performed and the results can be explained by a stepwise inner-sphere mechanism. However, if there is e.g. a solvent cage effect, the results can also be explained by an outer-sphere mechanism. We have found that there is no cage effect in the reduction of a ketone containing a potential internal amine trap. If the mechanism is outer-sphere, an explanation as to why the solvent cage effect is much stronger in the case of imines than ketones is needed. Noyori’s catalyst, [p-(Me2CH)C6H4Me]RuH(NH2CHPhCHPhNSO2C6H4-p-CH3), has successfully been used to produce chiral alcohols and amines via transfer hydrogenation. The present study shows that the mechanism for the reduction of imines is different from that of ketones and aldehydes. Acidic activation of the imine was found necessary and an ionic mechanism was proposed.

In Michael J. Krische research group we are developing new transition metal catalyzed Carbon-Carbon (C-C) forming reactions focusing on atom economy and byproduct free, environmental friendly approaches. We have developed a broad family of C-C bond forming hydrogenations with relative and absolute stereocontrol which provide an alternative to stoichiometric organometallic reagents in certain carbonyl and imine additions. Inspiring from the group work my goal was to develop new reactions, extend the scope of our group chemistry and their application towards synthesis of biologically active natural products. I have been part of enantioselective Rh catalyzed Aldol reaction of vinyl ketones to different aldehydes. Also, we have found that iridium catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of allylic acetates in the presence of aldehydes or alcohols results in highly enantioselective carbonyl allylation under the conditions of transfer hydrogenative. Based on this reactivity a concise enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of 1,3-polyols was achieved via iterative chain elongation and bidirectional iterative asymmetric allylation was performed, which enables the rapid assembly of 1,3-polyol substructures with exceptional levels of stereocontrol. The utility of this approach stems from the ability to avoid the use of chirally modified allylmetal reagents, which require multistep preparation, and the ability to perform chain elongation directly from the alcohol oxidation level. This approach was utilized for the total synthesis of (+)-Roxaticin from 1,3-propanediol in 20 longest linear steps and a total number of 29 manipulations. Further, advancements were made in iridium catalyzed C-C bond formation under transfer hydrogenation. While methallyl acetate does not serve as an efficient allyl donor, the use of more reactive leaving group in methallyl chloride compensate for the shorter lifetime of the more highly substituted olefin π-complex. Based on this insight into the requirements of the catalytic process, highly enantioselective Grignard-Nozaki-Hiyama methallylation is achieved from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation levels. Also, a catalytic method for enantioselective vinylogous Reformatsky- type aldol addition was developed in which asymmetric carbonyl addition occurs with equal facility from the alcohol or aldehyde oxidation level. Good to excellent levels of regioselectivity and uniformly high levels of enantioselectivity were observed across a range of alcohols and aldehydes. / text

De nouveaux β-aminoalcools chiraux ont été synthétisés en 3 à 4 étapes avec de bons rendements globaux (19-42%). Ils ont été testés en tant que ligands dans la réaction de réduction de cétones aromatiques par transfert d’hydrogène. Des excès énantiomériques jusqu’à 91% ont été obtenus avec de bonnes conversions jusqu’à 99%. La réduction asymétrique de cétones aromatique par le borane a été également étudiée. Ces β-aminoalcools se sont montrés actifs mais pas très énantiosélectifs. Ces composés ont également été utilisés en tant que ligands dans la réaction d’addition du diéthylzinc sur des aldéhydes aromatique conduisant aux produits désirés avec de bons rendements (jusqu’à 98%) et de bonnes énantiosélectivités (jusqu’à 80%). En revanche, la réaction d’addition d’autres organométalliques (l’organozincique, le silane, l’étain et le nickel) sur aldéhydes montre de faible énantiosélectivité dans la plupart de cas.Dans la dernière partie de ce travail, un des β-aminoalcools synthétisés a été évalué dans la réaction de cyanation catalytique énantiosélective d’aldimines. Malgré des bonnes conversions obtenues, des faible énantiosélectivités ont été observées. / Chiral β-aminoalcohol compounds were prepared in 3 or 4 steps from isosorbide in good overall yields (19-42%). These compounds were used as ligands in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones giving good enantioselectivities (up to 91% ee) and excellent conversions (up to 99%). The asymmetric reduction of aromatic ketones by borane complexes using these aminoalcohols was also evaluated. Good catalytic activity but low enantioselectivity were observed. Asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes using these β-aminoalcohols was also studied leading to desired products in good yields (up to 98%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 80%). However, no asymmetric induction was observed when using other organometallics (organozinc, silane, nickel, tin).The last part of this work consisted in evaluating one of these β-aminoalcohols in the Titanium-catalyzed asymmetric cyanation of aldimines. Despite good conversions, low enantioselectivities were observed.

Nucleophilic additions are an important class of reactions in the preparation of several organic compounds. Metals facilitate nucleophilic additions in many cases. The present work Mechanistic Investigation of Metal Promoted Nucleophilic additions is an attempt to understand the mechanism of nucleophilic additions to imines and carbonyl compounds mediated by the transition metal complexes. Understanding the mechanism of metal promoted nucleophilic additions can facilitate the design and synthesis of more efficient catalysts. Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction to nucleophilic addition. A few named reactions that involve nucleophilic addition are described. An overview of the metal promoted nucleophilic addition reactions and their mechanisms are presented. A short note on the importance of understanding the mechanism of metal promoted nucleophilic addition is included. This section ends with the scope of the present work. Chapter 2 “Mechanistic Investigation of Titanium Mediated Reactions of Imines” deals with two reactions. The first reaction is the formation of reduced amines on reduction of imines. Amines and diamines are synthesized often from imines. A convenient route to such nitrogen containing compounds is through reduction of imines and through reductive coupling of imines respectively. Since both reactions occur in a parallel fashion, during the synthesis of diamines, amines are obtained as side products and vice versa. This problem is acute in the case of titanium based reducing agents. These reducing agents are called low valent titanium reagents because low valent titanium species are generated in situ either from titanium(IV) or titanium(III) reagents. There is no clear understanding of the nature of the low valent titanium involved in the reaction. To rectify this, a mechanistic understanding of this reaction is essential. An attempt was made to probe the mechanism of formation of amines using low valent titanium formed by using two different reducing agents namely phenylsilane and zinc. With the help of isotopic labelling studies, it was found that the mechanism of formation of an amine with phenylsilane involves a direct hydrogen transfer from phenylsilane to an imine. This was verified using deuterium labelled phenylsilane. With zinc, it follows a traditional titanacycle pathway which was verified by quenching with the deuterium oxide. A second reaction that has been probed is the alkylation of imines by Grignard reagents using chiral titanium complexes. Alkylation of imines is one of the suitable routes to prepare chiral amines. Alkylation of imines employing a Grignard reagent with Ti(OiPr)4 can proceed through two different pathways depending on the amount of the Grignard reagent used. Alkylation reaction with one equivalent of Grignard reagent can proceed through a Ti(IV) species and the alkylation reaction with two equivalents of the Grignard reagent can proceed through a Ti(II) species. The reaction proceeding through Ti(IV) is less wasteful as it only requires one equivalent of the Grignard reagent. The two pathways differ from each other in the nature of the transition state where the C-C bond is formed. To verify the favourable pathway, chiral titanium complexes were prepared and alkylation carried out. The alkylation results suggest that one equivalent of Grignard is sufficient to give good yields of the alkylated product and the reaction may proceed through a Ti(IV) promoted path. It was reported in the literature that at least three equivalents of Grignard reagent are required to get good yields of the alkylated product with zirconium complexes. This work suggests a greener alternate to alkylation of imines. Chapter 3 “Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation Reaction of Ketones in Water” deals with the synthesis of chiral ruthenium half-sandwich complexes employing a proline diamine ligand which has phenyl, ethyl, benzyl, or hydrogen as a substituent. These complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction. In addition, all these complexes were obtained as single diastereoisomers. These complexes were used as catalysts for the reduction of a variety of ketones to chiral alcohols in water using sodium formate as a hydride source. Stoichiometric reaction between sodium formate and the catalysts showed the formation of hydride complexes as the active species. Based on the electronic effects observed, the key step is found to be a nucleophilic attack of hydride on the carbonyl carbon of ketones. In the transfer hydrogenation reaction with DCOONa, more of 1-phenylethanol- 1-2H1 was observed with all the ruthenium catalysts suggesting that the hydrogen from sodium formate is transformed into a metal hydride which is subsequently transferred to the ketones to form chiral alcohols. The catalysts were optimized with acetophenone as a model substrate. Only in the case of a catalyst which has a phenyl substituent, silver nitrate was found to enhance the formation of aqua complex which in turn resulted in good yields of the chiral alcohols. Among all the complexes studied, the catalyst bearing a phenyl group induces greatest enantioselectivity. It can also be recycled. Chapter 4 “On the Formation of a Ruthenium-PPh2H Complex Using 1- Phenylethane-1,2-diol” deals with the mechanism of formation of PPh2H from PPh2Cl. This unique transformation involves a ruthenium-cymene dimer, PPh2Cl and 1-phenylethane-1,2- diol. In the attempted synthesis of a ruthenium bisphosphinite complex, using the ruthenium-cymene dimer, chlorodiphenylphosphine and 1-phenylethane-1,2-diol, the formation of [Ru(η6-cymene)Cl2PPh2H] was observed in good yield. Formation of the expected ruthenium bisphosphinite complex was not observed. The reaction was carried out in the absence of 1-phenylethane-1,2-diol resulted in the formation of [Ru(η6- cymene)Cl2PPh2Cl] suggests that the diol acts as a reducing agent. To verify the source of hydrogen in the 1-phenylethane-1,2-diol, deuterated diols were prepared. The reactions with the deuterated diols revealed several interesting aspects of the formation of the Ru-PPh2H complex. Chapter 5 “Mechanistic Studies on the Diazo Transfer Reaction” deals with the synthesis of labelled azides and the labelled azidating reagent to probe the mechanism of the diazo transfer reaction. Azides are important precursors used for a variety of chemical transformations including the celebrated Cu(I) catalyzed click reaction. Azides are also used as protecting groups for amines as they can be conveniently reduced to amines. Azidation of amines usually yield azides, with retention of stereochemistry. There is a possibility that the azide formation can occur through the SNi mechanism with retention of configuration where nitrogen in the starting material will not be retained after forming an azide. The reaction was carried out with 13C and 15N labelled L-valine and L-isoleucine to probe this possibility. The resultant labelled azide has 15N retained in its position. This excluded the SNi pathway. To show where the nucleophilic amine group is attacking the azide, labelled imidazole-1¬sulfonyl azide was synthesized from NaN215N. Reactions were carried out with L-valine (labelled and unlabelled) in the presence of a metal catalyst and with unlabelled L-valine in the absence of catalyst. These results confirm the postulated pathways described in the literature.

Ce travail de thèse porte sur la synthèse de nouveaux composés chiraux à partir de l’isosorbide et de l’isomannide en vue de leurs applications en catalyse asymétrique. Dans une première partie, de nouvelles monophosphines ont été synthétisées et appliquées en tant que ligands dans la réaction d'hydrogénation asymétrique d’oléfines. Des excès énantiomériques jusqu’à 96% ont été observés. Elles ont également été employées en tant que catalyseurs organiques dans les réactions de cyclisation [3 +2]. De bonnes activités catalytiques et des excès énantiomériques modestes sont obtenus. Dans une deuxième partie, une série de composés azotés chiraux a été synthétisée en 3 à 4 étapes avec de bons rendements globaux. Ils ont été testés en tant que ligands dans la réaction de réduction de cétones aromatiques par transfert d’hydrogène. Des excès énantiomériques jusqu’à 73% ont été obtenus. La réaction d’addition de phénylacétylène sur d’imines a également été étudiée. Les complexes formés se sont montrés actifs mais pas très énantiosélectifs. Ces composés azotés ont également été utilisés en tant que catalyseurs organiques dans la réaction d’addition de Michael de cétones aromatiques sur le nitrostyrène. Toutefois, ils n’ont permis de conduire qu’à de faibles énantiosélectivités. Dans une dernière partie, des composés de type thiourée ont été synthétisés en 5 étapes. Ces thiourées ont été appliquées en catalyse organique dans la réaction d’alkylation de type Friedel-Crafts entre différents substrats indoliques et nitrooléfines, et dans la réaction d’addition conjuguée des hydroxylamines sur des pyrazoles pour la synthèse de dérivés β-aminoacides. Ces catalyseurs se sont révélés actifs mais peu énantiosélectifs. / The Thesis deals with the synthesis of new chiral compounds derived from isosorbide and isomannide and their applications to asymmetric catalysis. The first part of this work consisted in perfecting the chemical and enantioselective hydrogenation conditions of olefins using chiral monophosphines as ligands (up to 96% ee). These phosphines were also used as organocatalysts for [3+2] cyclisation reactions showing good catalytic activity and moderate enantioselectivity. The second part turned to the synthesis of a series of chiral nitrogen compounds which were evaluated in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones giving good enantioselectivity (up to 73% ee). The complexes formed with amine ligands were also applied to the addition reaction of phenylacetylene to imines. Good catalytic activity but low enantioselectivity were observed. These nitrogen compounds were also used as organocatalysts in the Michael addition reaction of aromatic ketones to the nitrostyrene. Again, low enantiomeric excess was obtained. The last part of this work consisted in preparing new chiral thiourea compounds which were applied as organocatalysts to the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of different indoles with nitroolefines, and to the conjugate addition reaction of hydroxylamines to pyrazoles derivatives for the synthesis of β-amino acids. In two cases, these catalysts have proved active but not enantioselective.