Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

The late transition metal complexes containing sulfide ligands have trem- endous applications not only in biochemistry but also in industrial catalysis. We have successfully synthesized four different bidentate ligands, 2- (Benzylidene)benzenethiol(NS-1), 2-[2,6-(Dimethylbenzylidene)]benzenethi- ol(NS-2), 2-(2-Chloro-1-methylethylidene)benzenethiol(NS-3) and 2-(Diphe- nylphosphanyl)benzenethiol(PS), and five tridentate ligands, N-{N-[2-(Diph- enylphosphino)benzylidene]-2-sec-butylethylsulfide}(PNS-1), N-{N-[2-(Di- phenylphosphino)benzylamino]-2-sec-butylethylsulfide}(PNS-2), 2-[2-(Diph- enylphosphino)phenylsulfanylmethyl]pyridine(PSN-1), 2-[2-(Diphenylphos- phino)phenylsulfanyl]ethylamine(PSN-2) and 2-(Diphenylphosphino)phenyl- sulfanylacetonitrile(PSN-3). These ligands reacted with the late transition metal (Zn, Ag, Pd, and Ni) salts, and produced complexes 1-12. Besides their spectra, we also obtained crystal structures of complexes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. We found that the PNS tridentate ligands had different bonding modes in zinc, silver, palladium, and nickel complexes. For examples, in zinc complexes 1 and 2 only P and S atoms were coordinated to the metal while all P, N, and S atoms were coordinated to the Pd metal in Pd complexes. It indicated that thiolether prefers to coordinate to palladium but not to zinc in our cases. When PNS-2 went through different reaction routes, two silver complexes 4 and 5 with different coordination modes a M2L2 type dinuclear complex and a ML2 type mononuclear complex were obtained.. When reacting PNS-2 with nickel, we obtained an unique tetranuclear nickel complex 6. PSN-1 showed two different coordinate modes in complexes 8-10 while PSN-2 and silver produced a dinuclear silver complex 11 that resembled complex 4. PSN-3 coordinated to Pd ion by phosphorus and sulfide atoms. As such, we demonstrated the various coordinated modes in PNS and PSN ligands. Finally PS bidentate ligand reacted with zinc salt produced complex 7 with one oxidized ligand. The variable temperature NMR experiment was also used to probe the structural change that occurred in solution state for 3.

Late transition metal complexes bearing nitrogen-containing ligands may act as catalyst in biotechnology or industrial catalysis. Imidazole is one of the most common biofunctional ligands that play critical roles in meta1loenzymes, since the imidazole moiety of the histidyl residues often constitutes all or part of the binding sites of various transition metal centers. In this work, some new zinc(II), copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes containing the imidazolate and pyridyl moieties incorporated in the imine (ImPyI) and amine (ImPyA) ligands were obtained. Different methods of crystallization yield crystals of complexes (2), (6), (8), (9), (10), (17) and (18). Subsequent structural analyses revealed their interesting structures. In zinc(II) and nickel(II) complexes, facial isomers were isolated while none of the meridional isomers were observed. Particularly interesting is the zinc(II) complexes where two facial complexes with different geometries were identified. The mixture of the different nitrogen donor groups in the same ligand provides handy comparison of these structural variations due to the different nature of these donor groups. One tridentate ligand with bromide substitution on the imidazolate and a tetradentate ligand with an additional pyridyl group were synthesized as an extension of this work. One crystal structure of each of the corresponding metal complex bearing these ligands is also discussed here. Most metal complexes are consolidated by extensive weak hydrogen bonds among them in the crystal lattices.

Influenza A (IVA) continues to pose a growing global threat even as current medications are becoming less effective. One of the main avenues of research into new anti-IVA drugs is its homotetrameric Matrix 2 proton channel (M2A), without which the virus would be unable to release its viral RNA into the host cell. The drug amantadine used to bind and block M2A until near-ubiquitous resistance formed as an M2A-S31N mutation, starting around 1995 and proceeding to 2005 when amantadine was disallowed for use as an anti-IVA drug. The standard organic structure currently being used for M2A inhibitor research comprises an adamantyl foot group, a heterocyclic aryl body group, and a cyclic head group. A sample set of compounds with this standard structure was compared and reviewed, focusing on positive and negative moieties and modifications. Modifications on the foot group were all more or less detrimental, body groups with two heteroatoms were advantageous, and larger head groups appeared better. Four other scaffolds known to literature were proposed for further study due to beneficial aspects of each. Where most anti-M2A research deals exclusively with organic compounds, metals and their potential in drugs have been almost entirely ignored due to the increased toxicity they bring. Free copper was found in past research to be the only first-row transition metal to show significant M2A-inhibitory activity, proposed to do so by binding the H37 cluster that acts as a pH-dependent control switch for the channel. Six overall-neutral copper complexes were synthesized as a combination of amantadine, cyclooctylamine, and null scaffolds with two of either acetate or acetamide arms as chelators. The complexes were found to block both M2A-WT and M2A-S31N. Along with CuCl¬¬2, though, they had little to no effect on M2A-H37A, providing confirming evidence that the copper binds at the H37 tetrad. Only one complex, Cu(cyclooctylamineiminodiacetate), outperformed CuCl2 in channel block studies and efficacy against two IVA strains, but all of the complexes were found to have lower cytotoxicity. Because M2-H37 is highly conserved, these complexes show promise for further testing against all strains of influenza A. Five net-divalent copper complexes were then synthesized with multiple aza or amine groups as chelators. The complexes failed to show any significant activity against M2A, however, which was thought to be due to size or polarity rejection or electromagnetic repulsion. One of the ligands, though, an adamantyl derivative of a tetraaza macrocycle, was a novel compound, and its copper complex, along with two others, were unknown to the CCDC database. The three complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction and discussed.

Influenza A (IVA) continues to pose a growing global threat even as current medications are becoming less effective. One of the main avenues of research into new anti-IVA drugs is its homotetrameric Matrix 2 proton channel (M2A), without which the virus would be unable to release its viral RNA into the host cell. The drug amantadine used to bind and block M2A until near-ubiquitous resistance formed as an M2A-S31N mutation, starting around 1995 and proceeding to 2005 when amantadine was disallowed for use as an anti-IVA drug. The standard organic structure currently being used for M2A inhibitor research comprises an adamantyl foot group, a heterocyclic aryl body group, and a cyclic head group. A sample set of compounds with this standard structure was compared and reviewed, focusing on positive and negative moieties and modifications. Modifications on the foot group were all more or less detrimental, body groups with two heteroatoms were advantageous, and larger head groups appeared better. Four other scaffolds known to literature were proposed for further study due to beneficial aspects of each. Where most anti-M2A research deals exclusively with organic compounds, metals and their potential in drugs have been almost entirely ignored due to the increased toxicity they bring. Free copper was found in past research to be the only first-row transition metal to show significant M2A-inhibitory activity, proposed to do so by binding the H37 cluster that acts as a pH-dependent control switch for the channel. Six overall-neutral copper complexes were synthesized as a combination of amantadine, cyclooctylamine, and null scaffolds with two of either acetate or acetamide arms as chelators. The complexes were found to block both M2A-WT and M2A-S31N. Along with CuCl¬¬2, though, they had little to no effect on M2A-H37A, providing confirming evidence that the copper binds at the H37 tetrad. Only one complex, Cu(cyclooctylamineiminodiacetate), outperformed CuCl2 in channel block studies and efficacy against two IVA strains, but all of the complexes were found to have lower cytotoxicity. Because M2-H37 is highly conserved, these complexes show promise for further testing against all strains of influenza A. Five net-divalent copper complexes were then synthesized with multiple aza or amine groups as chelators. The complexes failed to show any significant activity against M2A, however, which was thought to be due to size or polarity rejection or electromagnetic repulsion. One of the ligands, though, an adamantyl derivative of a tetraaza macrocycle, was a novel compound, and its copper complex, along with two others, were unknown to the CCDC database. The three complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction and discussed.

The work reported in this thesis involves the synthesis of a series of monometallic and polymetallic complexes incorporating the tridentate polypyridyl bridging ligand tpp (where tpp = 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine) and an investigation of their ground and excited state properties. A series of ruthenium monometallic chromophore complexes has been prepared varying the ligands coordinated on the metal center. The systematic alteration of the ligands has enhanced the understanding of the electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of ruthenium polypyridyl tridentate complexes. In contrast to [Ru(tpy)₂]²⁺ (where tpy = 2,2’:6’,2’’-terpyridine), these monometallic complexes and many of the polymetallic systems emit in solution at room temperature. Methylation of one of the remote pyridine nitrogens on tpp has been accomplished forming a covalently coupled viologen that can potentially function as an electron acceptor. Two classes of synthetically useful bimetallic complexes of the form [(tpy)M(tpp)RuCl₃]⁺ and [(tpy)M(tpp)Ru(tpp)]⁴⁺ have been prepared (where M = Ru(II) or Os(II)). Synthetic methods have been developed for the stepwise construction of tpp bridged systems by a building block approach. In all bimetallic complexes, the tpp bridging ligand is the site of localization of the LUMO. In the [(tpy)M(tpp)RuCl₃]⁺ systems, the ruthenium metal coordinated to tpp and three chlorides is the easiest to oxidize and is the site of localization of the HOMO. In contrast, for the [(tpy)M(tpp)Ru(tpp)]⁴⁺ systems, the HOMO is localized on the metal being varied, either Ru or Os. This gives rise to complexes which possess a lowest lying excited state that is always a MLCT state involving tpp but can be tuned to involve Ru or Os metal centers. Bimetallic systems that incorporate this tpp ligand have long lived excited states in solution at room temperature (t >100 ns). The bimetallic complex [(tpy)Ru(tpp)IrCl₃]²⁺ has been studied and shown to be an electrocatalyst for the reduction of CO₂ to CO and formate. The synthesis of the monometallic complexes has advanced the understanding of the ground and excited state properties of tridentate compounds. Incorporation of these complexes into bimetallic systems has aided in the understanding of the perturbations of these properties that occur upon formation of a polymetallic system. / Ph. D.

This thesis describes the development of the [RuCl₂(P N N)L] catalytic system for asymmetric hydrogenation. It has been demonstrated that the current system is efficient in preparing a range of bulky chiral alcohols in good enantioselectivity, many of which are likely to be inaccessible using the more classic [RuCl₂(P P)N N)] system developed by Noyori and coworkers. It has been shown that the current system is tolerant of a range of substrate electronic effects as well as the presence of heteroaromatic functionality, thus showing its applicability in synthesis. This has been extended to prepare a number of bulky derivatives of synthetically important molecules. The demonstration of this is significant as in drug design, for example, studies that aim to extend lipophilicity or steric bulk make the ability to prepare alcohols across the full range of steric properties important. We have shown that chiral alcohols with adjacent gem-dimethyl groups can be prepared in high enantioselectivity and their conversion into other valuable molecules, such as chiral lactones has been demonstrated. Detailed mechanistic studies have been undertaken for the present system in order to aid rational design of new, more active and selective catalysts. A number of achiral variants of the original system have been prepared and the key features of ligand structure for efficient catalysis have been identified. This was accomplished by rigorous kinetic analysis of each complex, using specialist gas-uptake monitoring equipment. The key features of catalyst structure and optimal reaction conditions for efficient asymmetric hydrogenation have been identified. Our greater understanding of the present system allowed us to rationally design new catalysts of for enantioselective hydrogenation. Our aim was to be able to tune the catalyst structure to carry out hydrogenation of a greater variety of ketone substrate with high activity and selectivity. We have successfully prepared second generation catalysts that show enhanced enantioselectivity for a variety of substrates, many of which were problematic with the Noyori system.

This thesis is focused on the development of new pincer complex-catalyzed transformations. Optimization of the catalytic properties (fine-tuning) was directed to increase the catalytic activity as well as the chemo-, stereo- and enantioselectivity of the complexes. This was achieved by varying the heteroatoms in the terdentate pincer ligand, by changing the electronic properties of the coordinated aryl moiety and by implementing chiral functionalities in the pincer complexes. In the cross-coupling reaction of vinyl epoxides and aziridines with organoboronic acids the chemoselectivity of the reaction could be increased by employment of pincer complexes instead of commonly used Pd(0) catalysts. Furthermore, the introduction of a methoxy substituent in the aromatic subunit of the complex considerably increased the activity of the pincer complex catalyst. Fine-tuning of the enantioselectivity in electrophilic allylation reactions was achieved by using a wide variety of new BINOL- and biphenanthrol-based pincer complexes. The highest enantioselectivity (85% ee) was obtained by applying biphenanthrol-based pincer complexes. Stereoselective pincer complex-catalyzed condensation of sulfonylimines with isocyanoacetate could be achieved under mild reaction conditions. By application of chiral PCP catalysts, 2-imidazolines could be obtained with up to 86% ee. A new pincer complex-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization based reaction between organonitriles and sulfonylimines affords homoallylic amines and beta-aminonitriles in high yields. The asymmetric version of this process affords beta-aminonitriles with up to 71% ee. In the last chapter, a pincer complex-catalyzed redox coupling reaction is described. In this highly regio- and stereoselective process the integrity of the pincer catalysts is fully retained. This catalytic reaction proceeds with a high level of functional group tolerance, as allylic acetate and aryl halide functionalities are retained.

The goal of this research is to test the design constraints of active dpp-bridged RuII,RhIII (dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine)) supramolecular photocatalysts for water reduction to H2 and provide mechanistic insights into the catalytic cycle. Two member of a new RuII,RhIII motifs with only one Rh-'Cl bond, [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)RhCl(tpy)](PF6)4 ( bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, tpy = 2,2':6,2"-terpyridine) and [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)RhCl(tpm)](PF6)4, (tpm = tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane), and a cis-RhCl2 model system, [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)RhCl2(bpy)](PF6)3, were prepared. This new motif was to test whether two Rh-'Cl bonds on RhIII are required for the photocatalytic water reduction. 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis of complexes prepared using deuterated ligands was used to characterize these three RuII,RhIII supramolecular complexes. Electrochemical studies suggested that replacing bpy with a tridentate ligand on RhIII shifts the RhIII/II and RhII/I reduction couples positively, which can modulate the orbital energetics of the RhIII LUMO (lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital). This substitute also changes the rate of ligand dissociation following the reduction of RhIII. In tpm and bpy systems, RhII intermediate is more stable than that in the tpy system. All three complexes were good light absorbers in the visible region and weak emitters from their emissive Ru(dπ)-'dpp(π*) 3MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) excited states at room temperature. The population of a low-lying 3MMCT (metal-to-metal charge transfer) ES (excited state) from the 3MLCT ES contributed to the weak emission, indicating an important intramolecular electron transfer process from dpp' to RhIII upon photoexcitation. The lower-lying 3MMCT excited state in the tpm and tpy systems relative to the bpy system result in a higher rate constant (ket = 2.6 x 10^7 vs 1.7 x 10^7 s-1) for intramolecular electron transfer. Spectrophotochemical analysis suggested that all three complexes were photoinitiated electron collectors capable of collecting two electrons on the RhIII center to generate the RuII,RhI species in the presence of DMA (N,N-dimethylaniline). The observed H2 production from water using [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)RhCl(tpm)](PF6)4 and [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)RhCl(tpy)](PF6)4 established that two halides on RhIII are not necessary in the dpp-bridge RuII,RhIII supramolecular photocatalytic-water-reduction system. This new discovery opens a new approach to the design of different RuII,RhIII motifs for photocatalysis. The active species for water reduction is proposed to be [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)RhICl(TL)]3+ from [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)RhCl(TL)](PF6)4 (TL (terminal ligand) = tpy or tpm) and [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)Rh(bpy)]3+ from [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)RhCl2(bpy)](PF6)3 respectively. Included here is the design and study of a RuII,RhI complex, [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)RhCl(COD)](PF6)3 (COD =1,5-cyclooctadiene) to provide more insights into the photophysical and photochemical properties of polypyridyl RuII,RhI species. Electrochemical and photophysical studies revealed a dpp-based LUMO in this RuII,RhI complex, suggesting dpp reduction upon photoexcitation. Photochemical study found that [(bpy)2Ru(dpp)RhCl(COD)](PF6)3 is an active photocatalyst for water reduction and that additional reduction(s) is (are) required after the generation of the RuII,RhI active species in the RuII,RhIII supramolecular photocatalytic H2 production system. This hypothesis was supported by the electrocatalytic behaviors of the RuII,RhIII supramolecular complexes for proton reduction. Cyclic voltammetry results in the presence of an acid suggested that the protonolysis of the RuII,RhIIH and RuII,RhIH species are electrocatalytic H2-evolution pathways. The mechanism is acid-dependent and influenced by terminal ligand. The studies of electrocatalytic proton reduction on these RuII,RhIII complexes suggested several possible intermediates involved in the photocatalytic water reduction cycle. The insights gained from this research can provide guidance in designing new type of RuII,RhIII and RuII,RhI complexes with better photocatalytic and/or electrocatalytic H2 production performance. / Ph. D.

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