This thesis is divided into three separate parts with amino alcohols as the common feature. The first part describes the development of a novel three-component approach to the synthesis of α-hydroxy-β-amino esters. Utilizing a highly diastereoselective Rh(II)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides to various aldimines, syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino esters formed in high yields and excellent diastereoselectivities. This methodology was also applied in a short enantioselective synthesis of the C-13 side-chain of Taxol. The second part of the thesis describes a total synthesis of D-erythro- Sphingosine based on a cross-metathesis approach to assemble the polar head group and the aliphatic chain. The last part deals with the application of amino alcohols as scaffolds in a diversity-oriented protocol for the development of libraries of small polycyclic molecules. The design of the libraries is based on the iterative use of two powerful ring-forming reactions; a ring-closing metathesis and an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, to simultaneously introduce structural complexity and diversity. / QC 20101222

Les céramides sont des lipides de la classe des sphingolipides issus de la N-acylation d’une base sphingoide par un acide gras. Ces lipides et leurs analogues suscitent un grand intérêt comme composants actifs dans les industries pharmaceutique et cosmétique. Parmi les biocatalyseurs capables de réaliser la synthèse de ce type de lipide, la lipase B de Candida antarctica semble être l’enzyme la plus adaptée à la production de « pseudo-céramides » à partir d’amino-polyols. Dans ce contexte, nous avons abordé l’étude de l’acylation de composés de type « amino-alcool »catalysée par la lipase B de Candida antarctica, en gardant à l'esprit une approche fondamentale afin d’élargir les connaissances actuelles sur ce sujet. La première partie de notre travail a ainsi traité de l’étude cinétique de l’acylation de composés monofonctionnels afin de déterminer les mécanismes réactionnels et l’énantio sélectivité de la lipase B de Candida antarctica pour les réactions de N-acylation et de O-acylation. Les parties suivantes de notre travail ont porté sur une étude structure-réactivité du substrat accepteur d’acyle et sur l’étude de l’influence du solvant utilisé (solvant organique ou liquide ionique) afin de déterminer les facteurs clés influençant la chimio sélectivité et la régio sélectivité de la lipase B de Candida antarctica lors de l’acylation de composés multifonctionnels de type « amino-alcool ». Finalement, à partir des connaissances acquises dans les différentes parties, nous avons développé et optimisé un procédé de synthèse enzymatique de « pseudo-céramides » (O,N-diacyl aminopropanediols) mis en oeuvre en réacteur continu à « lit fixe ». / Ceramides are lipids from the sphingolipide class derived from the N-acylation of a sphingoid base from a fatty acid. These lipids and their analogs are compounds of interest used as active components in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Among biocatalysts able to synthesize this type of lipids, Candida antarctica lipase B appears to be the most appropriate enzyme for the production of "pseudo-ceramides" derived from amino-polyols. In this context, we have studied the acylation of amino-alcohol-like compounds catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B, keeping inmind a fundamental approach to expand the current knowledge on this subject. The first part of our work aimed to determine the reaction mechanisms and the enantio selectivity exhibited by Candida antarctica lipase B during O-acylation and N-acylation reactions, by conducting a kinetic study of mono functional compound acylation. In the following parts of our work, we performed a structurere activity study of the acyl acceptor substrate and evaluated the effect of the solvent used (organic solvent or ionic liquid) to determine the key factors influencing the chemo selectivity and the regio selectivity of the Candida antarctica lipase B-catalyzed acylation of polyfunctional amino alcohol compounds. Finally, starting from the knowledge acquired in the previous parts, we have developed and optimized an enzymatic process of “pseudo-ceramide” (O,N-diacylaminopropanediol) synthesis performed in a continuous packed-bed reactor.

The major part of this thesis describes the asymmetric synthesis of β- and γ-amino alcohols through the combination of ruthenium catalyzed racemization and enzymatic kinetic resolution. The dynamic kinetic resolution, DKR, protocol for chlorohydrins was improved by employing Bäckvall’s catalyst, which is a base activated racemization catalyst, in combination with Burkholderia cepacia lipase. These optimized conditions broadened the substrate scope and improved the yields and ee’s of the obtained chlorohydrin acetates. The utility of the method was demonstrated in the synthesis of (S)-salbutamol. In the second part of the thesis, DKR was utilized in the enantio-determining step of the total synthesis of (R)-duloxetine. Optimized DKR conditions, combining Bäckvall’s catalyst together with Candida antarctica lipase B, afforded a β-cyano acetate in high yield and ee. (R)-Duloxetine was accessible through synthetic alterations of the enantioenriched β-cyano acetate in high overall yield. A dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation, DYKAT, protocol to obtain enantio- and diastereomerically pure γ-amino alcohols was developed. In a first step N-Boc-aminoketones were obtained in high enantiomeric purity through a proline-catalyzed Mannich reaction. Subsequent in situ reduction coupled with a highly efficient DYKAT yielded γ-amino acetates in high dr and ee. The γ-amino alcohols were available through simple hydrolysis/deprotection with retained stereochemistry. In the final part of the thesis a heterogeneous bifunctional catalytic system is reported, which combines the catalytic properties of transition metal-catalyzed racemization with enzymatic acylation. A novel ruthenium-phosphonate complex was synthesized and then covalently anchored to the active site of solid supported Candida antarctica lipase B. The partially inhibited beads proved to be catalytically active both in racemization as well as enzymatic acylation. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: In press. Paper 3: Epub ahead of print.