This thesis describes mechanistic studies, rational ligand design, and synthesis of asymmetric transition metal catalysts. The topics addressed concerned [Papers I-VII]: [I] The asymmetric addition of diethyl zinc to N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)benzalimine catalyzed by bicyclic 2-azanorbornyl-3-methanols was studied. An efficient route to both diastereomers of new bicyclic 2-azanorbornyl-3-methanols with an additional chiral center was developed, in the best case 97% ee was obtained with these ligands. The experimental results were rationalized by a computational DFT-study. [II] An aza-Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with chiral heterocyclic imines derived from (S)-1-phenylethylamine and different heteroaromatic aldehydes was developed. The cycloaddition proved to be highly diastereoselective and offers a very rapid access to possible biologically active compounds and interesting precursors for chiral (P,N)-ligands. [III] A convenient and high-yielding method for the preparation of (R)-tolterodine, utilizing a catalytic asymmetric Me-CBS reduction was developed. Highly enantio-enriched (R)-6-methyl-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydrochromen-2-one (94% ee) was recrystallized to yield practically enantiopure material (ee >99%) and converted to (R)-tolterodine in a four-step procedure. [IV] The reaction mechanism of the iridium-phosphanooxazoline-catalyzed hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins has been studied by means of DFT-calculations (B3LYP) and kinetic experiments. The calculations suggest that the reaction involves an unexpected IrIII-IrV catalytic cycle facilitated by coordination of a second equivalent of dihydrogen. On the basis of the proposed catalytic cycle, calculations were performed on a full system with 88 atoms. These calculations were also used to explain the enantioselectivity displayed by the catalyst. [V and VI] A new class of chiral (P,N)-ligands for the Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of aryl alkenes was developed. These new ligands proved to be highly efficient and tolerate a broad range of substrates. The enantiomeric excesses are, so far, the best reported and can be rationalized using the proposed selectivity model. [VII] The complex formed between the quincorine-amine, containing both a primary and a quinuclidine amino function, and [Cp*RuCl]4 catalyzes the hydrogenation of aromatic and aliphatic ketones in up to 90% ee approx. 24-times faster than previously reported Ru-diamine complexes. The reason for the lower but opposite stereoselectivity seen with the quincoridine-amine, as compared to the quincorine-amine, was rationalized by a kinetic and computational study of the mechanism. The theoretical calculations also revealed a significantly lower activation barrier for the alcohol mediated split of dihydrogen, as compared to the non-alchol mediated process. A finding of importance also for the diphosphine/diamine mediated enantioselective hydrogenation of ketones.

This thesis describes synthesis of new chiral N,P ligands and their evaluation in two types of asymmetric transition-metal catalyzed reactions. The first part of the thesis describes studies in iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation. A new class of chiral N,P ligands, imidazole-phosphines, was synthesized and evaluated in the Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins (Paper I). The new ligands proved to be highly efficient and enantioselective in the reaction. Because the substrate scope of Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation is still limited to certain types of test substrates, new substrate classes with importance in medicinal and materials chemistry were investigated. Vinyl fluorides were efficiently hydrogenated to fluorine-containing chiral centers by the iridium catalysts with imidazole-phosphine ligands (Paper I). To obtain CF3-bearing chiral centers, we hydrogenated CF3-substituted olefins (Paper II). Ir-catalyzed asymmetric  hydrogenation was highly enantioselective for the functionalized CF3-substituted olefins and the resulting chiral products can be valuable in design of materials such as LCD screens. Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation was also evaluated as a route to diarylmethine chiral centers (Paper III). A wide range of new chiral compounds possessing a diarylmethine chiral center was obtained. The second part of the thesis deals with asymmetric intermolecular Heck reaction utilizing N,P ligands. The N,P ligand class of thiazole-phosphines was evaluated in the Heck reaction (Paper IV) and gave high enantioselectivity. Further, the intermolecular Heck reaction was examined using computational and experimental studies (Paper V). This study led to a better understanding of the enantioselectivity in the reaction.

This thesis deals with the development of new methods for efficient synthesis and analysis in asymmetric catalysis. It focuses on the preparation of chiral cyanohydrins by enantioselective addition of cyanide to prochiral aldehydes. The initial part of the thesis describes the development of a dual Lewis acid– Lewis base activation system for efficient synthesis of chiral O-acylated and Ocarbonylated cyanohydrins. This system was used for the preparation of a variety of cyanohydrins in high isolated yields and with up to 96% ee. Activation of the cyanide by nucleophilic attack of the Lewis base at the carbonyl carbon atom was supported experimentally. Secondly, convenient procedures for the synthesis of polymer-bound chiral YbCl3-pybox and Ti-salen complexes are described. The polymeric complexes were employed in cyanation of benzaldehyde. A T-shaped microreactor was used for screening of reaction conditions for the enantioselective cyanation of benzaldehyde using trimethylsilyl cyanide and acetyl cyanide as cyanide sources. A microreactor charged with the polymeric Tisalen complex was used for enantioselective cyanation of benzaldehyde. Finally, an enzymatic method for high throughput analysis of ee and conversion of products from chiral Lewis acid–Lewis base-catalysed additions of α- ketonitriles to prochiral aldehydes was developed. The method could be used for the analysis of a variety of O-acylated cyanohydrins. Microreactor technology was successfully combined with high throughput analysis for efficient catalyst optimisation. / QC 20100809

The ability to generate chiral building blocks is of paramount importance to organic chemists. This problem presents itself most notably at the interface of chemistry and biology, where molecules of only a single enantiomer can induce function to many biological systems. In this context, recent developments in the field of organocatalysis, most notably the employment of chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have shown much promise. Our group has recently shown that one possible chiral NHC catalyzed Stetter cyclization product of a conjugated triene, a highly functionalized cyclopentenone, contains both a chiral center and an adjacent conjugated diene. This structure can be easily elaborated to a bicyclic structural motif present in some biologically active natural products from the ginkgolide family, and is difficult to access by other means. The synthesis of novel vinyl stannanes and other coupling substrates involved in the development of the aforementioned reaction discovery are described in this report.

<p>This thesis deals with the design of ligands for efficientasymmetric catalysis and studies of the conformation of theligands in the catalytically active complexes. All ligandsdeveloped contain chiral oxazoline heterocycles.</p><p>The conformations of hydroxy- and methoxy-substitutedpyridinooxazolines and bis(oxazolines) during Pd-catalysedallylic alkylations were investigated using crystallography,2D-NMR techniques and DFT calculations. A stabilising OH-Pdinteraction was discovered which might explain the differencein reactivity between the hydroxy- and methoxy-containingligands. The conformational change in the ligands due to thisinteraction may explain the different selectivities observed inthe catalytic reaction.</p><p>Polymer-bound pyridinooxazolines and bis(oxazolines) weresynthesised and employed in Pd-catalysed allylic alkylationswith results similar to those of monomeric analogues;enantioselectivities up to 95% were obtained. One polymer-boundligand could be re-used several times after removal of Pd(0).The polymer-bound bis(oxazoline) was also used in Zn-catalysedDiels-Alder reactions, but the heterogenised catalyst gavelower selectivities than a monomeric analogue.</p><p>A series of chiral dendron-containing pyridinooxazolines andbis(oxazolines) were synthesised and evaluated in Pd-catalysedallylic alkylations. The dendrons did not seem to have anyinfluence on the selectivity and little influence on the yieldwhen introduced in the pyridinooxazoline ligands. In thebis(oxazoline) series lower generation dendrimers had a postiveon the selectivity, but the selectivity and the activitydecreased with increasing generation.</p><p>Crown ether-containing ligands were investigated inpalladium-catalysed alkylations. No evidence of a possibleinteraction between the metal in the crown ether and thenucleophile was discovered.</p><p>A new type of catalyst, an oxazoline-containing palladacyclewas found to be very active in oxidations of secondary alcoholsto the corresponding aldehydes or ketones. The reactions wereperformed with air as the re-oxidant. Therefore, this is anenviromentally friendly oxidation method.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>asymmetric catalysis, chiral ligand,oxazolines, conformational study, allylic substitution,polymer-bound ligands, dendritic ligands, crown ether,oxidations, palladacycle.</p>

A detailed mechanistic investigation of the previously reported ruthenium pseudo-dipeptide-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of aromatic ketones was performed. It was found that the addition of alkali metals has a large influence on both the reaction rate and the selectivity, and that the rate of the reaction was substantially increased when THF was used as a co-solvent. A novel bimetallic mechanism for the ruthenium pseudo-dipeptide-catalyzed asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones was proposed. There is a demand for a larger substrate scope in the ATH reaction, and heteroaromatic ketones are traditionally more challenging substrates. Normally a catalyst is developed for one benchmark substrate, and a substrate screen is carried out with the best performing catalyst. There is a high probability that for different substrates, another catalyst could outperform the one used. To circumvent this issue, a multiple screen was executed, employing a variety of ligands from different families within our group’s ligand library, and different heteroaromatic ketones to fine-tune and to find the optimum catalyst depending on the substrate. The acquired information was used in the formal total syntheses of (R)-fluoxetine and (S)-duloxetine, where the key reduction step was performed with high enantioselectivities and high yield, in each case. Furthermore, a new iron-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed hydrosilylation (HS) protocol was developed. An active catalyst was formed in situ from readily available imidazolium salts together with an iron source, and the inexpensive and benign polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) was used as hydride donor. A set of sterically less demanding, potentially bidentate NHC precursors was prepared. The effect proved to be remarkable, and an unprecedented activity was observed when combining them with iron. The same system was also explored in the reduction of amides to amines with satisfactory results. / <p>At the time of doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript.</p>

Les motifs hétéroaromatiques sont présents dans de nombreuses molécules naturelles. Depuis plusieurs années, notre groupe s'est particulièrement intéressé à la réactivité des pyrroles et des indoles vis-à-vis des nitrones pour donner des bis(pyrrolyl)alcanes, et des bis(indolyl)alcanes, dont des composés naturels comme le vibrindole A ou des composés synthétiques. Ces motifs présentent un grand intérêt car ils peuvent présenter aussi bien des activités anticancéreuses que des activités antibactériennes. C'est dans ce contexte que s'inscrit la première partie du présent travail de recherche. La méthode développée au laboratoire a été étendue à de nouveaux motifs mixtes de type "indole-pyrrole", "indole-furane" et "pyrrole-furane", afin de tester leurs activités en tant qu’antibactériens. Un second volet de ce manuscrit porte sur le développement d'une synthèse "verte" de 2,2'-bis(pyrrolyl)alcanes et de 3,3' bis(indolyl)alcanes symétriques. Finalement, l’addition catalysée énantiosélective de pyrroles à divers électrophiles azotés menant à des pyrrolyl méthanamines a été mise au point en présence d'un catalyseur organique de type acide phosphorique présentant une chiralité axiale. Cette méthode est appliquée à la synthèse d'une molécule naturelle, la (+) absouline. / Heteroaromatics are present in many natural products. Since several years, our group is particularly interested in the reactivity of pyrroles and indoles towards nitrones to give bis(pyrrolyl)alkanes and bis (indolyl)alkanes that could be present in natural compounds such as vibrindole A or in synthetic compounds. These structural patterns are interesting because they could display either anticancer or antibacterial activities. The first part of the present research starts from these previous results. The method developed in the laboratory was extended to new mixed molecules containing either "indole-pyrrole", "indole-furan" or "pyrrole-furan" moieties, in order to test their activities as antibacterial agents. A second part of this manuscript focuses on the development of a "green" preparation of symmetrical 2,2' bis(pyrrolyl)alkanes and 3,3' bis(indolyl) alkanes respectively. Finally, the catalytic enantioselective addition of pyrroles onto several nitrogen-containing electrophiles yielding pyrrolyl methanamines has been developed in the presence of an organic catalyst such as a phosphoric acid with an axial chirality. This method is currently applied to the synthesis of a natural molecule, the (+)-absouline.

Le développement de nouvelles molécules capables d’intéragir avec l’ADN, leur mode d’intéraction et leur affinité est un domaine de recherche particulièrement important. Dans ce travail nous avons étudié les interactions avec l’ADN de la molécule Hoechst 33258 connu pour être un ligand du petit sillon ainsi que plusieurs de ces analogues.Dans un premier temps nous avons étudié la stabilité des complexes ADN-Hoechst 33258 en solution avec et sans DMSO comme co-solvant. Deuxièmement, les affinités de dérivés nouvellement conçus et synthétisés du Hoechst 33258 vis-à-vis de l'ADN ont été évaluées. Enfin, nous avons étudiés la capacité d’induction d’excimers en présence d’ADN de différentes molécules pyrénylées. Ces études ont été effectuées par différentes méthodes spectroscopiques, telles que l'absorbance UV-visible, la fluorescence, le dichroïsme circulaire, la spectroscopie de masse ESI et de la modélisation moléculaire. / The development of new DNA binders and the evaluation of their affinity toward DNA as well as their mode of binding is an area of research of prime importance. In this thesis we studied the interactions of Hoechst 33258, a well-known groove binder, as well as some of its newly synthesized derivatives with DNA. The stability of DNA-Hoechst 33258 complex in solution with and without DMSO as a co-solvent was evaluated.Secondly, the affinities of newly designed and synthesized derivatives of Hoechst 33258 toward DNA were evaluated. Finally, a set of pyrene derivatives able to induced excimer formation upon binding to DNA were studied. Different spectroscopic methods, such as UV-vis absorbance, fluorescence, circular dichroism, ESI mass spectroscopy and molecular docking were applied for the complete evaluation of the affinity of these ligands toward DNA.

Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse ont eu pour objectif la valorisation d’une structures bicyclique bifonctionnelle à géométrie contrainte, celle de l’acide 2-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-carboxylique (ABOC). La contrainte conformationnelle est une caractéristique particulièrement recherchée dans la conception d’agent chiraux pour la synthèse asymétrique ainsi que dans la synthèse de macromolécules se structurant spontanément (foldamères). Un travail sur la synthèse de petits peptides incorporant le (R) ou (S)-ABOC, a dans un premier temps conduit à l’identification d’un nouvel organocatalyseur bifonctionnel de la réaction d’aldolisation. Ce tripeptide incorporant en plus de l’ABOC un résidu proline en position N-terminale et un résidu Asp-OMe en position C-terminale a permis l’obtention d’excès énantiomérique élevés (jusqu’à 87%). Les analyses structurales ainsi que des calculs théoriques ont montré l’importance du bicycle de l’ABOC induisant la formation d’un coude dans la molécule et permettant la proximité des fonctions acide carboxylique (Asp) et amine secondaire (Pro) intervenant dans la catalyse. Dans un second temps, l’optimisation de la synthèse du (R) ou (S)-1,2-diaminobicyclo[2,2,2]octane (DABO) a permis de mettre en évidence l’impact important d’une double liaison endo-cyclique dans la réactivité de l’amine en tête de pont lors du réarrangement de l’acide carboxylique de l’ABOC en amine primaire. En effet, seules les conditions d’Hofmann appliqué au substrat présentant une insaturation dans le squelette bicyclique ont permis d’obtenir la diamine chirale avec de bon rendement. Cette nouvelle diamine vicinale chirale contrainte par un bicycle carboné a d’abord permis la synthèse de composés thiourée-amine autour du bicycle pour l’organocatalyse de la réaction d’addition de Nitro-Michael asymétrique. Cependant, et malgré les nombreux efforts d’optimisation, l’utilisation de ces molécules n’a jamais permis l’obtention d’excès énantiomériques supérieurs à 39%. En revanche, la synthèse de nouveaux ligands chiraux salen, salan et diamines secondaires basés sur le DABO et l’application des complexes de cuivre correspondants dans la catalyse de la réaction de nitroaldolisation asymétrique a abouti à l’obtention de bons rendements et d’une stéréosélectivité allant jusqu’à 86% d’excès énantiomériques. Le complexe donnant les meilleurs résultats a fait l’objet d’une étude DFT approfondie permettant de proposer la structure de l’état de transition le plus stable et de rationaliser la stéréosélectivité observée. Enfin la synthèse du DABO a permis d’entreprendre la synthèse de nouvelles oligourées mixtes homochirales se structurant en hélice-12/14 stables, alors qu’aucune structuration n’avait été observée lors de l’étude d’oligourées mixtes homochirales synthétisées à partir de l’ABOC. / The work presented in this thesis was aimed at the valorisation of a bicyclic bifunctional structure with constrained geometry, the 2-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octane 1-carboxylic acid (ABOC). Conformational restriction is a particularly sought characteristic in chiral agent designed for asymmetric synthesis as well as in the synthesis of spontaneously structuring macromolecules (foldamers). A work on the synthesis of small peptides incorporating (R) or (S)-ABOC, initially led to the identification of a novel bifunctional organocatalyst for the aldolization. This tripeptide incorporating in addition to ABOC a proline residue in the N-terminal position and an Asp-OMe residue in the C-terminal position allowed to obtain high enantiomeric excess (up to 87%). Structural analysis as well as theoretical calculations showed the importance of the ABOC bicycle, inducing the formation of a turn in the molecule and allowing the proximity of the carboxylic acid (Asp) and secondary amine (Pro) functions involved in catalysis. The optimization of the synthesis of (R) or (S)-1,2-diaminobicyclo[2,2,2]octane (DABO) allowed to demonstrate the important impact of an endo-cyclic double bond in the reactivity of the bridgehead amine during the rearrangement of the carboxylic acid of the ABOC to the primary amine. Indeed, only the Hofmann conditions applied to the substrate exhibiting unsaturation in the bicyclic skeleton allowed to obtain the chiral diamine in good yield. This novel chiral vicinal diamine conformationally restricted by a carbon bicycle first allowed the synthesis of thiourea-amine compounds around the bicycle for the organocatalysis of the asymmetric nitro-Michael addition. However, despite many optimization efforts, the use of these molecules has never led to enantiomeric excesses greater than 39%. On the other hand, the synthesis of new chiral salen, salan and secondary diamines ligands based on DABO and the application of the corresponding copper complexes for the catalysis of the asymmetric nitroaldolization reaction resulted in good yields and a stereoselectivity up to 87% enantiomeric excess. The best-performing complex was subjected to a DFT study to propose the structure of the most stable transition state and to rationalize the high stereoselectivity. Finally, the synthesis of DABO allowed to undertake the synthesis of new homochiral mixed oligoureas structuring as stable 12/14-helices, while no structure had been observed during the study of homochiral mixed oligoureas synthesized from the ABOC.

Palladium catalysed asymmetric hydroxy- and alkoxycarbonylation reactions of alkenes have the potential to deliver valuable chiral carboxylic acid and ester building blocks from cheap feedstocks: alkenes, carbon monoxide and water (alcohols in the case of alkoxycarbonylation). Despite the attractive nature of these reactions, extensive research has so far been unable to produce effective catalysts which are capable of controlling both regio- and enantioselectivity. Building on exciting recent results involving the use of highly enantioselective palladium catalysts derived from Phanephos-type ligands, this research focuses on paracyclophane-diphosphines and their use in asymmetric hydroxy- and alkoxycarbonylation reactions. An investigation into reaction conditions analysed several factors, including solvents, CO-pressure, acidic additives and halide sources, to provide optimal activity and selectivities. Two novel electron-poor paracyclophane-diphosphines and their mono- and di-palladium complexes were synthesised and shown to provide exceptional levels of regioselectivity while maintaining high levels of asymmetric induction. These are the first such examples of hydroxy- or alkoxycarbonylation catalysts to facilitate simultaneous control over both regio- and enantioselectivity. The most effective catalyst was used to promote the reactions of a selection of aryl alkenes and was shown to be tolerant of several different functional groups. A selection of non-symmetric paracyclophane-diphosphine ligands and their palladium complexes were also synthesised and assessed for their performance in hydroxy- and alkoxycarbonylation. We also report the use of Phanephos-type ligands to promote the highly enantioselective hydroxycarbonylation of N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-3-pyrroline to deliver a chiral proline derivative in high ee.