<div>Cyclopropanes are commonly found throughout synthetic and natural biologically active compounds. The Simmons–Smith cyclopropanation reaction is one of the most useful methods for converting an alkene into a cyclopropane. Zinc carbenoids are the active intermediate in the reaction, capable of delivering the methylene unit to a broad variety of substrates. Significant advances have been made in the field to increase overall efficiency of the reaction including the use of diethyl zinc as a precursor and allylic alcohols as directing groups.</div><div>Despite the many notable contributions in zinc carbenoid chemistry, persistent limitations of the Simmons–Smith reaction still exist. Zinc carbenoids exhibit poor steric discrimination in the presence of a polyolefin with minimal electronic bias. Additionally, due to the electrophilic nature of zinc carbenoid intermediates, the reaction performs inefficiently with electron-deficient olefins. Finally, alkyl-substituted zinc carbenoids are known to be quite unstable, limiting the potential for substituted cyclopropanation reactions.</div><div>In this work, we demonstrate that cobalt catalysis can be utilized to access novel cyclopropane products through the activation of dihaloalkanes. The content of this thesis will focus on the limitations of Zn carbenoid chemistry and addressing them with cobalt catalyzed, reductive cyclopropanations. In addition to this reactivity, we also demonstrate the dimethylcyclopropanation of activated alkenes to furnish valuable products applicable to natural product synthesis and pharmaceutically relevant compounds. Finally, we will show the unique character of the cobalt catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction through mechanistic experiments and characterization of reaction intermediates. In whole, these studies offer a complementary method to zinc carbenoid chemistry in producing novel and diverse cyclopropane products.</div>

Copper-catalyzed regeneration in atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) utilizes reducing agents, which continuously regenerate the activator (CuI) from the deactivator (CuII) species. This technique was originally found for mechanistically similar atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and its application in ATRA and ATRC has allowed significant reduction of catalyst loadings to ppm amounts. In order to broaden the synthetic utility of in situ catalyst regeneration technique, this was applied in copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical cascade reaction in the presence of free radical diazo initiators such as 2,2���-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) and (2,2���-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethyl valeronitrile) (V-70), which is the first part of this dissertation. This methodology can be translated to sequential ATRA/ATRC reaction, in which the addition of CCl4 to 1,6-dienes results in the formation 5-hexenyl radical intermediate, which undergoes expedient 1,5-ring closure in the exo- mode to form 1,2-disubstituted cyclopentanes. When [CuII(TPMA)Cl][Cl] complex was used in conjunction with AIBN at 60 0C, cyclic products derived from the addition of CCl4 to 16-heptadiene, diallyl ether and N,N��-diallyl-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide were synthesized in nearly quantitative yields using as low as 0.02 mol% of the catalyst (relative to 1,6-diene). Even more impressive were the results obtained utilizing tert��-butyl-N,N-diallylcarbamate and diallyl malonate using only 0.01 mol% of the catalyst. Cyclization was also found to be efficient at ambient temperature when V-70 was used as the radical initiator. High product yields (&gt;80%) were obtained for mixtures having catalyst concentrations between 0.02 and 0.1 mol%. Similar strategy was also conducted utilizing unsymmetrical 1,6-diene esters. It was found out that dialkyl substituted substrates (dimethyl-2-propenyl acrylate and ethylmethyl-2-propenyl acrylate) underwent 5-exocyclization producing halogenated g-lactones after the addition of CCl4 in the presence of 0.2 mol% of [CuII(TPMA)Cl][Cl]. Based on calculations using density functional theory (DFT) and natural bond order (NBO) analysis, cyclization of 1,6-diene esters was governed by streoelectronic factors. &lt;br&gt;As a part of broadening the synthetic usefulness of in situ copper(I) regeneration, scope was further extended to sequential organic transformations. Based on previous studies, copper(I) catalyzed [3+2] azide-alkyne cycloaddition is commonly conducted via in situ reduction of CuII to CuI species by sodium ascorbate or ascorbic acid. At the same time, ATRA reactions have been reported to proceed efficiently via in situ reduction of CuII complex to the activator species or CuI complex has been fulfilled in the presence of ascorbic acid. Since the aforementioned reactions share similar catalyst in the form of copper(I), a logical step was taken in performing these reactions in one-pot sequential manner. Reactions involving azidopropyl methacrylate and 1-(azidomethyl)-4-vinylbenzene in the presence of a variety of alkynes and alkyl halides, catalyzed by as low as 0.5 mol-% of [CuII(TPMA)X][X] (X=Br-, Cl-) complex, proceeded efficiently to yield highly functionalized (poly)halogenated esters and aryl compounds containing triazolyl group in almost quantitative yields (&gt;90%). Additional reactions that were carried out utilizing tri-, di- and monohalogenated alkyl halides in the ATRA step provided reasonable yields of functionalized trriazoles. A slightly different approach involving a ligand-free catalytic system (CuSO4 and ascorbic acid) in the first step followed by addition of the TPMA ligand in the second step was applied in the synthesis of polyhalogened polytriazoles. Sequential reactions involving vinylbenzyl azide, tripropargylamine and polyhalogenated methane (CCl4 and CBr4) provided the desired products in quantitative yield in the presence of 10 mol% of the catalyst. Modest yields of functionalized polytriazoles were obtained from the addition of less active tri- and dihalogenated alkyl halides utilizing the same catalyst loading. &lt;br&gt;The last part focuses on copper(I) complexes, which were used catalysts in cyclopropanation reaction. One class represented cationic copper(I)/2,2-bipyridine complexes with p-coordinated styrene [CuI(bpy)(p-CH2CHC6H5)][A] (A = CF3SO3- (1) and PF6- (2) and ClO4- (3). Structural data suggested that the axial coordination of the counterion in these complexes observed in the solid state weak to non-coordinating (2.4297(11) �� 1, 2.9846(12) �� 2, and 2.591(4) �� 3). When utilized in cyclopropanation, complexes 1-3 provided similar product distribution suggesting that counterions have negligible effect on catalytic activity. Furthermore, the rate of decomposition of EDA in the presence of styrene catalyzed by 3 (kobs=(7.7��0.32)��10-3 min-1) was slower than the rate observed for 1 (kobs=(1.4��0.041)��10-2 min-1) or 2 (kobs=(1.0��0.025)��10-2 min-1). On the other hand, tetrahedral copper(I) complexes with bipyridine and phenanthroline based ligands have been reported to have strongly coordinated tetraphenylborate anions. CuI(bpy)(BPh4), CuI(phen)(BPh4) and CuI(3,4,7,8-Me4phen)(BPh4) complexes are the first examples in which BPh4- counterion chelates a transition metal center in bidentate fashion through h2 p-interactions with two of its phenyl rings. The product distribution revealed that the mole percent of trans and cis cyclopropanes were very similar. The observed rate constants (kobs) shown in for decomposition of EDA in the presence of externally added styrene were determined to be kobs=(1.5��0.12)��10-3 min-1, (6.8��0.30)��10-3 min-1 and (5.1��0.19)��10-3 min-1. / Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences / Chemistry and Biochemistry / PhD / Dissertation

Copper-catalyzed regeneration in atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) utilizes reducing agents, which continuously regenerate the activator (CuI) from the deactivator (CuII) species. This technique was originally found for mechanistically similar atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and its application in ATRA and ATRC has allowed significant reduction of catalyst loadings to ppm amounts. In order to broaden the synthetic utility of in situ catalyst regeneration technique, this was applied in copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical cascade reaction in the presence of free radical diazo initiators such as 2,2’-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) and (2,2’-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethyl valeronitrile) (V-70), which is the first part of this dissertation. This methodology can be translated to sequential ATRA/ATRC reaction, in which the addition of CCl4 to 1,6-dienes results in the formation 5-hexenyl radical intermediate, which undergoes expedient 1,5-ring closure in the exo- mode to form 1,2-disubstituted cyclopentanes. When [CuII(TPMA)Cl][Cl] complex was used in conjunction with AIBN at 60 0C, cyclic products derived from the addition of CCl4 to 16-heptadiene, diallyl ether and N,N­-diallyl-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide were synthesized in nearly quantitative yields using as low as 0.02 mol% of the catalyst (relative to 1,6-diene). Even more impressive were the results obtained utilizing tert­-butyl-N,N-diallylcarbamate and diallyl malonate using only 0.01 mol% of the catalyst. Cyclization was also found to be efficient at ambient temperature when V-70 was used as the radical initiator. High product yields (&gt;80%) were obtained for mixtures having catalyst concentrations between 0.02 and 0.1 mol%. Similar strategy was also conducted utilizing unsymmetrical 1,6-diene esters. It was found out that dialkyl substituted substrates (dimethyl-2-propenyl acrylate and ethylmethyl-2-propenyl acrylate) underwent 5-exocyclization producing halogenated g-lactones after the addition of CCl4 in the presence of 0.2 mol% of [CuII(TPMA)Cl][Cl]. Based on calculations using density functional theory (DFT) and natural bond order (NBO) analysis, cyclization of 1,6-diene esters was governed by streoelectronic factors. &lt;br&gt;As a part of broadening the synthetic usefulness of in situ copper(I) regeneration, scope was further extended to sequential organic transformations. Based on previous studies, copper(I) catalyzed [3+2] azide-alkyne cycloaddition is commonly conducted via in situ reduction of CuII to CuI species by sodium ascorbate or ascorbic acid. At the same time, ATRA reactions have been reported to proceed efficiently via in situ reduction of CuII complex to the activator species or CuI complex has been fulfilled in the presence of ascorbic acid. Since the aforementioned reactions share similar catalyst in the form of copper(I), a logical step was taken in performing these reactions in one-pot sequential manner. Reactions involving azidopropyl methacrylate and 1-(azidomethyl)-4-vinylbenzene in the presence of a variety of alkynes and alkyl halides, catalyzed by as low as 0.5 mol-% of [CuII(TPMA)X][X] (X=Br-, Cl-) complex, proceeded efficiently to yield highly functionalized (poly)halogenated esters and aryl compounds containing triazolyl group in almost quantitative yields (&gt;90%). Additional reactions that were carried out utilizing tri-, di- and monohalogenated alkyl halides in the ATRA step provided reasonable yields of functionalized trriazoles. A slightly different approach involving a ligand-free catalytic system (CuSO4 and ascorbic acid) in the first step followed by addition of the TPMA ligand in the second step was applied in the synthesis of polyhalogened polytriazoles. Sequential reactions involving vinylbenzyl azide, tripropargylamine and polyhalogenated methane (CCl4 and CBr4) provided the desired products in quantitative yield in the presence of 10 mol% of the catalyst. Modest yields of functionalized polytriazoles were obtained from the addition of less active tri- and dihalogenated alkyl halides utilizing the same catalyst loading. &lt;br&gt;The last part focuses on copper(I) complexes, which were used catalysts in cyclopropanation reaction. One class represented cationic copper(I)/2,2-bipyridine complexes with p-coordinated styrene [CuI(bpy)(p-CH2CHC6H5)][A] (A = CF3SO3- (1) and PF6- (2) and ClO4- (3). Structural data suggested that the axial coordination of the counterion in these complexes observed in the solid state weak to non-coordinating (2.4297(11) Å 1, 2.9846(12) Å 2, and 2.591(4) Å 3). When utilized in cyclopropanation, complexes 1-3 provided similar product distribution suggesting that counterions have negligible effect on catalytic activity. Furthermore, the rate of decomposition of EDA in the presence of styrene catalyzed by 3 (kobs=(7.7±0.32)´10-3 min-1) was slower than the rate observed for 1 (kobs=(1.4±0.041)´10-2 min-1) or 2 (kobs=(1.0±0.025)´10-2 min-1). On the other hand, tetrahedral copper(I) complexes with bipyridine and phenanthroline based ligands have been reported to have strongly coordinated tetraphenylborate anions. CuI(bpy)(BPh4), CuI(phen)(BPh4) and CuI(3,4,7,8-Me4phen)(BPh4) complexes are the first examples in which BPh4- counterion chelates a transition metal center in bidentate fashion through h2 p-interactions with two of its phenyl rings. The product distribution revealed that the mole percent of trans and cis cyclopropanes were very similar. The observed rate constants (kobs) shown in for decomposition of EDA in the presence of externally added styrene were determined to be kobs=(1.5±0.12)´10-3 min-1, (6.8±0.30)´10-3 min-1 and (5.1±0.19)´10-3 min-1. / Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences / Chemistry and Biochemistry / PhD / Dissertation

Dans le premier chapitre, nous avons synthétisé les premiers phosphino(silyl)carbènes optiquement purs, à partir de la (R,R)- et de la (S,S)-N-N'- ditertiobutyl-1-1,2-éthanediamine. Ces carbènes ont ensuite été impliqués dans des réactions de cyclopropanation asymétriques, conduisant à d'excellents excès diastéréoisomériques, puisque supérieurs à 98%. Préalablement d'autres diamines précurseurs avaient été utilisées, sans succès, démontrant ainsi une fois de plus, l'importance de l'encombrement stérique dans la stabilisation des carbènes singulets. En effet la photolyse du dérivé diazoïque de la trans-N-N'-diisopropylcyclohexane -1,2-diamine ne conduit pas au carbène correspondant mais à un 1,3 -diphosphète, dimère "tête-queue" du carbène attendu. De même la photolyse du dérivé diazoïque de la N-N' -diisopropyl- 1,2 éthanediamine ne conduit pas au carbène correspondant mais à un cycle à 6 chaînons original, correspondant à l'addition d'une molécule de précurseur diazoïque sur le carbène attendu. La réactivité originale de ce phosphino(sylil)diazométhane a d'ailleurs été plus largement étudiée et est présentée dans ce document.<br />Dans le deuxième chapitre, est présentée l'étude de la réactivité des phosphino(amino)carbènes. Ce type de carbènes, découvert récemment au sein de notre laboratoire par Nathalie Merceron-Saffon, est une molécule bi fonctionnelle, présentant une fonction carbénique et une fonction phosphine. Nous avons exploité la réactivité de la paire libre de la phosphine pour réaliser la synthèse de nouveaux phosphonio(amino)carbène par oxydation du phosphore. Une étude sur les propriétés acido-basique de ce carbène a ensuite est menée, ouvrant ainsi une nouvelle voie à la synthèse en une seule étape de dérivés propargyliques par réaction d'un phosphino(amino)carbène avec l'acétone ou l'acétonitrile. Enfin ce carbène a été utilisé comme ligand bidentate du palladium et du nickel. Le complexe de palladium (II) obtenu a alors été testé en catalyse pour la réaction d'amination d'aryle. Les résultats obtenus (90% de conversion en 2h) sont encourageants.<br />Dans le troisième chapitre, nous avons cherché à synthétiser de nouveaux modèles de diphosphinocarbènes cycliques, analogues des NHCs et découverts très récemment au sein de notre laboratoire par David Martin. Dans un premier temps, l'importance cruciale de l'encombrement stérique dans la stabilisation des carbènes singulets a été une nouvelle fois illustrée, puisque la synthèse du diphosphinocarbène présentant un groupement tertiobutyle sur les phosphores s'est révélée impossible, validant ainsi une étude théorique réalisée précédemment par W.W. Schoeller. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons synthétisé un nouveau modèle de diphosphinocarbène cyclique complexé à GaCl3. Il a été obtenu par déprotonation du diphosphino-carbocation correspondant, synthétisé par piégeage d'un phosphénium par la dimétyl-cyanamide.

A variety of bromocorroles, useful precusors for Pd-based cross coupling, were sucessfully synthesized in moderate to good yields. Chiral corroles were also synthesized through use of chiral amides in the aforementioned cross coupling reactions. Cobalt complexes bearing π-acceptor (CNtBu) and σ-donor (PPh3) ligands were also prepared in excellent yields. In this dissertation, cobalt (III) corrole complexes were applied to three different reaction areas: epoxidation, N-H insertion, and cyclopropanation. Cobalt(III) corroles were found to be efficient catalysts for epoxidation reactions. The epoxidation reactions can be carried out using ethyl phenyldiazoacetate, an acceptor/donor diazo compound, as a carbenoid precusor.The reaction provided highly diastereoselective epoxides. In addition to epoxidation, N-H insertion reactions using cobalt(III) corroles as catalysts smoothly produced the desired products with diverse diazo reagents. The reactions were screened using ethyl phenyldiazoacetate with a selection of anilines and amides. In order to investigate non-ylide intermediate based metal-mediated catalytic reactions, cyclopropanation was conducted using cobalt (III) corroles as catalysts, producing the desired cyclopropyl nitroesters in high yields and with excellent diastereoselectivity under a concerted mechanism. Asymmetric cyclopropanation reactions were carried out using chiral cobalt(III) corrole complexes to generate the enatiomerically pure desired cyclopropanes in moderate yields.

Porphyrins and their analogs are a class of chemically and biologically important compounds that have found a variety of applications in different fields such as catalysis, medicine, and materials. The physical, chemical, and biological dependence of the peripheral substituents of porphyrins on their properties has prompted great effort towards the synthesis of new porphyrins with different electronic, steric, and conformational environments. To this end, porphyrins have been prepared using a modular approach from bromo- and triflate synthons. These synthons underwent palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling with chiral amines, amides, alcohols, and boronic esters to create products that were tested for biological activity. Metalloporphyrins were screened as catalysts for cyclopropanation and C-H amination, yielding excellent results. By changing the porphyrin catalysts’ chiral groups, all four enantiomers could be produced in the cyclopropanation of styrene derivatives with ethyl diazoacetate (or t-butyl diazoacetate). Similarly, a variety of sultams were produced from benzenesulfonyl azides in high yields and high enantioselectivities using chiral cobalt porphyrins as catalysts. Porphyrins, metalloporphyrins, and the catalytic products generated were tested for activity in a variety of medicinal collaborations, namely as therapeutics for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Alzheimer’s disease, malaria, viral infections that include influenza and herpes, and cancer, as well as biological studies with ferrochelatase. They were also used in materials experiments with two different polymer groups.

Metal-catalyzed cyclopropanation of olefins with diazo reagents has attracted research interest because of its fundamental and practical importance. The resulting cyclopropyl units are recurrent motifs in biologically important molecules and can serve as versatile precursors in organic synthesis. Since they were first introduced in 2004, Co(II) complexes of D2-symmetric chiral amidoporphyrins [Co(D2-Por*)] have emerged as a new class of catalysts for asymmetric cyclopropanation. These metalloradical catalysts have been shown to be highly effective for asymmetric intermolecular cyclopropanation of a broad scope of substrates with different classes of carbene sources, particularly including electron-deficient olefins and acceptor/acceptor-substituted diazo reagents, with excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. This dissertation focuses on exploring the Co(II)-based metalloradical catalyzed enantioselective cyclization reactions. It includes expanding families of catalysts, types of reactions and classes of substrates. With the developed novel approach for chiral porphyrin ligands, a new family of catalysts bearing different electronic and steric characters was synthesized. They turned out to be better catalysts for metalloradical cyclization in many cases, for instance, enantioselectivity of intramolecular cyclopropanation reached up to 99% with new catalyst. Besides the catalyst synthesis, more challenging diazo reagents were successfully employed in both intra- and intermolecular cyclopropanation for direct synthesis of highly functionalized cyclopropanes. Moreover, a tandem radical cyclization process beyond cyclopropanation was discovered, dihydrofuran was generated in a highly selective manner. Last but not least, we developed some novel applications of cyclopropane products, which could potentially lead to more exciting works.

La réaction de Kulinkovich, découverte en 1989, permet la transformation d'esters encyclopropanols par réaction avec un complexe oléfinique de titane. Cette réaction a étéappliquée en 2001 à la conversion des nitriles en cyclopropylamines primaires.Nous avons tout d'abord effectué une étude de la cyclopropanation asymétrique d'uncyanoester par un complexe chiral de titane. Une méthode d'évaluation rapide de l'inductionasymétrique de ligands chiraux a été mise au point, et a permis de réaliser un screening dediols chiraux. Les meilleurs résultats ont été obtenus avec le TADDOL, qui a fourni des excèsénantiomériques moyens, mais notre méthode d'évaluation reste un atout pour l'évaluationd'autres types de ligands chiraux.Une méthode originale de formation de 1,4-dicétones via un complexe oléfinique detitane a été découverte puis optimisée, et ses limites ont été explorées. La préparation des 1,4-dicétones s'effectue en deux étapes à partir d'acides carboxyliques avec des rendementsmodestes à satisfaisants. L'utilisation de réactifs peu coûteux et peu toxiques ainsi que lagrande diversité structurale accessible rendent notre méthode de synthèse compétitive vis-àvisde celles décrites dans la littérature.Plusieurs études réalisées précédemment par notre équipe ont permis de synthétiser defaçon exclusive les isomères (Z) de divers 2,3-méthanoaminoacides. Nous avons développé aucours de cette thèse une voie de synthèse des isomères (E) et (Z) de la 2,3-méthanolysineprotégés de façon orthogonale, via la cyclopropanation diastéréosélective d'une cyanhydrinebenzylée. La flexibilité de cette stratégie permet d'envisager la préparation des isomères (E)et (Z) de nombreux autres analogues contraints d'acides aminés.

Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-57).

Thesis advisor: X. Peter Zhang / Among recent advances in devising different strategies for stereoselective homolytic reactions, metalloradical catalysis (MRC) has emerged as a conceptually new approach for controlling stereoselectivity of radical reactions. As stable metalloradicals, cobalt(II) complexes of D₂-symmetric chiral amidoporphyrins [Co(D₂-Por)] have proven to be effective catalysts for homolytically activating a series of diazo compounds to generate α-Co(III)-alkyl radicals for various C-centered radical transformations with well-confined reactivity and selectivity. Nevertheless, the applications of donor-, donor/donor- and alkyl diazo compounds have been largely underdeveloped. This dissertation mainly focuses on how the chemistry of these types of diazo compounds was initiated by using commonly available aldehyde-derived sulfonylhydrazones as diazo surrogates. In the context of Co(II)-MRC, in situ-generated diazo compounds can be effectively activated for various asymmetric radical transformations, including intermolecular radical cyclopropanation of alkenes and intramolecular radical alkylation of C–H bonds. First, as a proof of concept, we have demonstrated the feasibility of using aryl aldehyde-derived sulfonylhydrazones as new radical precursors for diastereo- and enantioselective radical cyclopropanation of alkenes, and proven that the diazo in situ-generation protocol is well compatible with the catalytic radical process. Second, we have expanded the application of Co(II)-based MRC to a new territory by employing aliphatic diazo compounds for asymmetric cyclopropanation. The system is highlighted by the excellent enantioselectivity together with remarkable cis-selectivity. Finally, with the utilization of linear aliphatic aldehyde sulfonylhydrazones as diazo precursors, we have presented a new radical cyclization mode, involving hydrogen atom abstraction and radical substitution, for enantioselective synthesis of common five-membered rings via radical C–H alkylation. The system would offer a new retrosynthetic paradigm for construction of ring structures, where C–C bond can be disconnected as common C=O and C–H units of linear aldehydes. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.