Rhodium complexes bearing multidentate nitrogen donor ligands were investigated for their ability to promote alkyne and olefin functionalization reactions. This thesis work is comprised of two projects in which rhodium-heteroatom reactivity is investigated: P-H bond activation reactions and olefin functionalizations via rhodaoxetane intermediates. [Tp*Rh(PPh3)2] [Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate] and [Tp*Rh(cod)]2 (cod = cyclooctadiene) were evaluated for their activity in alkyne hydrophosphinylation in comparison to known catalysts for this reaction. [Tp*Rh(PPh3)2]and [Tp*Rh(cod)]2 were both shown to effect hydrophosphinylation of 1-octyne with diphenylphosphine oxide with high regioselectivity but moderate yields in comparison with Wilkinson's catalyst [C1Rh(PPh3)3]. [Tp*Rh(PPh3)2] was further shown to effect hydrophosphinylation of a range of aromatic and aliphatic alkynes with diphenylphosphine oxide, in each case exclusively providing the E-linear vinylphosphineoxide product. 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy provided evidence that alkyne hydrophosphinylation in the presence of pyrazolylborate rhodium complexes follows an analogous mechanism to that proposed for this reaction catalyzed by [C1Rh(PPh3)3] or[C1Rh(cod)]2. The 2-rhodaoxetane [(TPA)Rhmec2_,-4u, 0-2-oxyethypr BPh4- (TPA = tris[(2-pyridal)methyl]amine) was investigated for its potential as an intermediate in proposed functionalization reactions of olefins. RTPA)Rh111(K2-C,0-2-oxyethyl)]+ BPh4- was prepared by two published methods with limited success. A third method involved the use of nitrous oxide to oxygenate [(12-ethene)(K4-TPA)Rh1]+ to RTPA)Rh1110(-2-C,0-2-oxyethyDr. Only a trace amount of [(TPA)Rhmoc2 -C,0-2-oxyethypr was observed in the 1I-1 NMR spectrum of this reaction mixture. Initial test reactions of [(TPA)Rhilioc2_C,0-2-oxyethypr combined with substrates (aniline, toluenesulfonamide, phenylboronic acid, or benzaldehyde) were inconclusive since the results were obscured by the impurity of the samples.

Rhodium complexes bearing multidentate nitrogen donor ligands were investigated for their ability to promote alkyne and olefin functionalization reactions. This thesis work is comprised of two projects in which rhodium-heteroatom reactivity is investigated: P-H bond activation reactions and olefin functionalizations via rhodaoxetane intermediates. [Tp*Rh(PPh3)2] [Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate] and [Tp*Rh(cod)]2 (cod = cyclooctadiene) were evaluated for their activity in alkyne hydrophosphinylation in comparison to known catalysts for this reaction. [Tp*Rh(PPh3)2]and [Tp*Rh(cod)]2 were both shown to effect hydrophosphinylation of 1-octyne with diphenylphosphine oxide with high regioselectivity but moderate yields in comparison with Wilkinson's catalyst [C1Rh(PPh3)3]. [Tp*Rh(PPh3)2] was further shown to effect hydrophosphinylation of a range of aromatic and aliphatic alkynes with diphenylphosphine oxide, in each case exclusively providing the E-linear vinylphosphineoxide product. 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy provided evidence that alkyne hydrophosphinylation in the presence of pyrazolylborate rhodium complexes follows an analogous mechanism to that proposed for this reaction catalyzed by [C1Rh(PPh3)3] or[C1Rh(cod)]2. The 2-rhodaoxetane [(TPA)Rhmec2_,-4u, 0-2-oxyethypr BPh4- (TPA = tris[(2-pyridal)methyl]amine) was investigated for its potential as an intermediate in proposed functionalization reactions of olefins. RTPA)Rh111(K2-C,0-2-oxyethyl)]+ BPh4- was prepared by two published methods with limited success. A third method involved the use of nitrous oxide to oxygenate [(12-ethene)(K4-TPA)Rh1]+ to RTPA)Rh1110(-2-C,0-2-oxyethyDr. Only a trace amount of [(TPA)Rhmoc2 -C,0-2-oxyethypr was observed in the 1I-1 NMR spectrum of this reaction mixture. Initial test reactions of [(TPA)Rhilioc2_C,0-2-oxyethypr combined with substrates (aniline, toluenesulfonamide, phenylboronic acid, or benzaldehyde) were inconclusive since the results were obscured by the impurity of the samples.

Rhodium complexes bearing multidentate nitrogen donor ligands were investigated for their ability to promote alkyne and olefin functionalization reactions. This thesis work is comprised of two projects in which rhodium-heteroatom reactivity is investigated: P-H bond activation reactions and olefin functionalizations via rhodaoxetane intermediates. [Tp*Rh(PPh3)2] [Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate] and [Tp*Rh(cod)]2 (cod = cyclooctadiene) were evaluated for their activity in alkyne hydrophosphinylation in comparison to known catalysts for this reaction. [Tp*Rh(PPh3)2]and [Tp*Rh(cod)]2 were both shown to effect hydrophosphinylation of 1-octyne with diphenylphosphine oxide with high regioselectivity but moderate yields in comparison with Wilkinson's catalyst [C1Rh(PPh3)3]. [Tp*Rh(PPh3)2] was further shown to effect hydrophosphinylation of a range of aromatic and aliphatic alkynes with diphenylphosphine oxide, in each case exclusively providing the E-linear vinylphosphineoxide product. 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy provided evidence that alkyne hydrophosphinylation in the presence of pyrazolylborate rhodium complexes follows an analogous mechanism to that proposed for this reaction catalyzed by [C1Rh(PPh3)3] or[C1Rh(cod)]2. The 2-rhodaoxetane [(TPA)Rhmec2_,-4u, 0-2-oxyethypr BPh4- (TPA = tris[(2-pyridal)methyl]amine) was investigated for its potential as an intermediate in proposed functionalization reactions of olefins. RTPA)Rh111(K2-C,0-2-oxyethyl)]+ BPh4- was prepared by two published methods with limited success. A third method involved the use of nitrous oxide to oxygenate [(12-ethene)(K4-TPA)Rh1]+ to RTPA)Rh1110(-2-C,0-2-oxyethyDr. Only a trace amount of [(TPA)Rhmoc2 -C,0-2-oxyethypr was observed in the 1I-1 NMR spectrum of this reaction mixture. Initial test reactions of [(TPA)Rhilioc2_C,0-2-oxyethypr combined with substrates (aniline, toluenesulfonamide, phenylboronic acid, or benzaldehyde) were inconclusive since the results were obscured by the impurity of the samples. / Science, Faculty of / Chemistry, Department of / Graduate

Many known synthetic methods enable the hydrolysis of alkynes with Markovnikov regioselectivity. In contrast, the synthetic chemist’s toolbox lacks broadly effective processes for the hydrolysis of alkynes with anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity. This thesis describes the development of new synthetic method that will help address this deficiency. This document begins with a review of the concepts of Markovnikov and anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity and an explanation of the broad extension of this terminology that is applied throughout the remainder of this thesis to encompass all alkyne substrates. Next, a review of the published methods of alkyne hydrolysis is presented, with emphasis on the internal alkyne substrates. The remainder, and bulk, of this thesis details the development of a new synthetic methodology that leverages regioselective radical thiolation chemistry to achieve anti-Markovnikov hydrolysis of alkynes. Internal alkynes are first converted to oxathiolanes or vinyl sulfides with anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity followed by hydrolysis of these moieties to the corresponding anti-Markovnikov ketones. In the case of aryl-alkyl alkyne substrates, complete anti-Markovnikov selectivity is demonstrated with a broad range of examples. Aryl-aryl alkyne substrates offer a mixture of regioisomers favoring anti-Markovnikov products. Finally, the utility of this methodology is demonstrated with its application to the successful first total synthesis of the bioactive natural product isomeranzin. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Substrates with localized, organic radicals have the ability to attack `inert' surfaces to form covalent bonds between the substrate and an atom at the surface. These radicals can be generated in electrochemical experiments with substrates bearing an electroactive moiety. The moiety after oxidation (loss of an electron) or reduction (gain of an electron) generates the active radical. Electron transfer reactions at an electrode surface generate a high population of these radicals, thereby facilitating attachment. The electrochemical oxidations of compounds containing terminal alkynes and alkenes were found to be effective methods for covalent attachment to glassy carbon, gold, and platinum electrodes. Modified electrodes were studied for their fundamental electrochemistry with an emphasis on organometallics at the surface and to determine the effect of weakly coordinating anions in heterogeneous electrochemistry. Ferrocene, Fe(η5-C5H5)2, was employed predominantly in this research, as it has robust neutral and cationic states, making it a superior electron transfer agent. A number of other compounds prominent in organometallic electrochemistry, such as ruthenocene (Ru(η5-C5H5)2), cymantrene (Mn(η5-C5H5)(CO)3), cobaltocenium ([Co(η5-C5H5)2]+), and benzene chromium tricarbonyl (Cr(η6-C6H6)(CO)3), were also studied at modified surfaces. A novel method was developed employing the anodic oxidation of ethynyl-lithium compounds to modify electrodes. Oxidation of the carbon-lithium bond leads to an alkyne radical and the loss of lithium ions to solution. The desired radical can be formed either by intramolecular electron-transfer mediation by pendant ferrocenium ions or by the direct oxidation of the ethynyl-lithium bond. These experiments successfully led to the appearance of new surface waves at the electrode. The new surface waves were assigned to the parent molecule of interest based on its electrochemical properties, i.e. its potential, and the electrochemical and chemical reactivity of the redox process. A second general method was developed for terminal alkynes and alkenes which eliminated the need for chemical pre-treatment and lithiation of the alkyne. The direct oxidation of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds at higher potentials forms the active radical after loss of a proton. The direct oxidation was extended to the organic compound, tetraphenylporphyrin. Porphyrins are a widely used molecular scaffold in naturally occurring compounds such as chlorophyll and heme, and can be applied in optics and electronics due to their intense optical properties. These two approaches hold promise as general anodic methods for electrode modification, and for applications in chemical analysis and catalysis.