A synthetic investigation on the chemistry of cyclotryptamine derived natural products, with a particular focus on the synthesis of the trimeric-alkaloid, hodgkinsine. Methodology has been developed to tackle this complex natural product which utilises a desymmetrization approach; this strategy hinges on the development and applications of asymmetric C-N bond forming reactions. Chapter one examines elements of symmetry in natural products, looking in particular at the synthesis of compounds which contain cyclotryptamine functionality. Chapter two contains a brief review of enantioselective desymmetrization paying attention, if possible, on its application in the synthesis of natural products. In the remaining chapters we discuss our own progress and results in our pursuit of an efficient enantioselective total synthesis of hodgkinsine.

<strong>Introduction – Dearomatisation of Heteroaromatic Compounds</strong> The introduction provides a survey of dearomatisation reaction of heteroaromatics, with a particular focus on pyridines/pyridinium salts and furans. The mechanism, scope, and limitations of various approaches are covered, along with the goals of this project. <strong>Results and Discussion – Dearomatisation of Electron-Deficient Heteroaromatics</strong> This chapter initially explores the asymmetric addition of organometallic nucleophiles to pyridinium salts bearing a chiral counterion. Unfortunately, this approach ultimately proved unsuccessful, due to low observed enantioselectivities, and the low solubility of such salts. The second part of this chapter concerns the attempted asymmetric addition of dicarbonyl nucleophiles to electron-deficient furans, under conditions of chiral phase-transfer catalysts, affording bicyclic products in moderate enantioselectivity. Various alternative routes were also explored for the dearomatisation of furans and benzenoid systems. <strong>Introduction – Hydrogen Borrowing Alkylation Reactions with Alcohols</strong> The introduction surveys the range of methods available for the alkylation of various nucleophiles with alcohols under transition metal-catalysed conditions. Related methodologies are also explored, along with methods for the dehydrogenation of methanol. <strong>Results and Discussion - Rhodium-catalysed Methylation of Ketones Using Methanol</strong> This chapter describes the development of a novel ketone α-methylation using methanol. The development of reaction conditions is explored, followed by expansion of the substrate scope, including limitations of the methylation reaction. Mechanistic investigations support a methanol oxidation, aldol reaction/elimination, conjugate reduction pathway. Investigations into the role of O2 in the methylation reaction proved inconclusive. The utility of the reaction was also expanded via one-pot dialkylation reactions (work by Di Shen), Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of the products, and an attempted asymmetric transfer-hydrogenation. <strong>Results and Discussion - Interrupted Hydrogen Borrowing Reactions of Methanol</strong> This chapter looks to intercept intermediates from the α-methylation reaction. The selective methylenation of ketones is described, and a range of nucleophiles are screened for further functionalisation of ketones. Finally, a number of nucleophiles, including nitroalkanes, amines, peroxides and boronic acids are applied to one pot methylenation/conjugate addition protocols, affording complex products after two steps in one reaction vessel. <strong>Experimental</strong> Full experimental procedures and spectroscopic characterisation of compounds are provided.

Chiral molecules play a central role in our daily life and in nature, for instance the different enantiomers or diastereomers of a chiral molecule may show completely different biological activity. For this reason, it is a vital goal for synthetic chemists to design selective and efficient methodologies that allow the synthesis of the desired enantiomer. In this context, it is highly important that the concept of green chemistry is considered while designing new approaches that eventually will provide more environmental and sustainable chemical synthesis.The aim of this thesis is to develop the concept of combining transition metal catalysis and aminocatalysis in one process (dual catalysis). This strategy would give access to powerful tools to promote reactions that were not successful with either transition metal catalyst or the organocatalyst alone. The protocols presented in this thesis based on organocatalytic transformations via enamine or iminium intermediates or both, in combination with transition metal catalysis, describes new enantioselective organocatalytic procedures that afford valuable compounds with high chemo- and enantioselectivity from inexpensive commercial available starting materials. In paper I, we present a successful example of dual catalysis: the combination of transition metal activation of an electrophile and aminocatalyst activation of a nucleophile via enamine intermediate. In paper II, the opposite scenario is presented, here the transition metal activates the nucleophile and the aminocatalyst activates the electrophile via an iminium intermediate. In paper III,we present a domino Michael/carbocyclisation reaction that is catalysed by a chiral amine (via iminium/enamine activation) in combination with a transition metal catalysts activation of an electrophile. In paper IV, the concept of dual catalysis was further extended and applied for the highly enantioselective synthesis of valuable structural scaffolds, namely poly-substituted spirocyclic oxindoles. Finally, in paper V the concept of dual catalysis was expanded, by investigating more challenging and environmentally benign processes, such as the successful combination of a heterogeneous palladium and amine catalysts for the highly enantioselective synthesis of functionalised cyclopentenes, containing an all carbonquaternary stereocenter, dihydrofurans and dihydropyrrolidines.

Dans une première partie de ce manuscrit, nous avons montré l'importance des hélicènes en évoquant certaines de leurs applications et en revenant sur l'intérêt porté à ce domaine par la communauté scientifique. Nous avons alors défini notre objectif : la synthèse de phosphahélicènes où le phosphore serait intégré dans le dernier cycle aromatique du squelette hélicoïdal. Choisissant une approche par photocyclisation, nous avons mis au point une voie de synthèse nous donnant accès à des hélicènes à partir d'oléfines substituées par des 1H-phosphindoles. Lors de la formation de ces hélicènes, il a été mis en évidence une réaction de dimérisation [2+2] entre les doubles liaisons terminales de ces hélicènes qui a conduit aux premiers dimères de ce type rapportés dans la littérature. Des phosphahélicènes énantiopurs ont été obtenus à l'aide d'une copule chirale liée au phosphore : un groupement l-menthyle. Dans un second temps, nous avons généralisé cette méthodologie à la synthèse d'hélicènes portant d'autres hétéroatomes en plus du phosphore. Ensuite, nous avons décidé d'utiliser des dibenzophospholes en lieu et place des 1H-phosphindoles, ce qui nous a permis d'obtenir de nouvelles structures avec de bons rendements. Les phosphahélicènes à phosphore trivalent correspondants ont servi pour former des complexes métalliques d'or et d'iridium. Les complexes Au-phosphahélicènes, testés dans une réaction de cycloisomérisation d'énynes 1,6 azotés, ont montré une bonne activité mais une faible induction asymétrique. Pour accroitre celle-ci, nous avons alors choisi de revenir à l'utilisation de phosphindoles, comme noyaux phosphorés, mais cette fois-ci substitués en positionalpha du phosphore par des groupements aromatiques. Nous avons préparés de nouveaux hélicènes et les complexes d'or correspondants. Leur étude en catalyse nous a permis de déterminer une géométrie optimale et les caractéristiques structurales nécessaires pour obtenir une bonne induction asymétrique.Des excès énantiomériques allant jusqu'à 86% ont été obtenus. Ces travaux nécessitent d'être poursuivis mais ont déjà ouvert le champ à une nouvelle famille de ligands phosphorés pour la catalyse à l'or. / In the first part of the manuscript, we have demonstrated the importance of helicenes by recalling their application fields, thus highlighting the interest of the scientific community to this class of compounds. We have summarized then the main results of our work. Our objective was the synthesis of phosphahelicene where the phosphorus moiety is included in the terminal aromatic ring of the helical framework. Following a photocyclisation approach, we developed a synthetic pathway starting from olefines substituted by1H-phosphindoles. A [2+2] dimerisation reaction between the terminal double bonds of two helicenes was also observed, which led to the first dimers of helicenes reported in the literature. The photocyclisation being highly diastereoselective, we were able to obtain enantiopur phosphahelicenes by using a chiral substituent on the phosphorus atom. We then used dibenzophospholes, as starting materials, instead of 1H-phosphindoles that resulted in the formation of a new series of phosphahelicenes in improved yields. The corresponding phosphahelicenes were used to form gold and iridium complexes. The Au-phosphahelicene complexes were tested in cycloisomerisation reactions of 1,6 aza-enynes and showed good activity but very poor asymmetric induction.To increase the chiral induction, we chose to come back to phosphindoles as a phosphorus core but we improved their design: aryl substituents were added in alpha position to the phosphorus atom. After formation of the new helicenes and their corresponding gold complexes, investigation of their catalytic properties highlighted the correct geometry and structural features needed for a good asymmetric induction.Enantiomeric excesses up to 86% were obtained. This work allowed the design of a new family of efficient gold catalysts for enantioselective cycloisomerisation.

Ce travail de thèse porte dans un premier temps sur la synthèse de nouveaux sels d’azolinium chiraux précurseurs de carbènes N-hétérocycliques. Deux nouvelles familles de sels ont été préparées à partir de la L-proline. Nous avons pu caractériser les NHC issus de ces sels, par la formation des dimères, des thiones et des complexes de rhodium correspondants. Dans un second temps, ces nouveaux sels d’azolinium ont été évalués dans la réaction d’addition conjuguée de réactifs de Grignard sur des cétones α,β insaturées. Les résultats ont montré de très bonnes activités catalytiques, et de très bonnes régiosélectivités. Les énantiosélectivités obtenues sont encourageantes. Ensuite, ces catalyseurs ont été engagés dans la réaction de substitution allylique. Une bonne activité catalytique a aussi été observée malgré des régiosélectivités et des énantiosélectivités modérées. Enfin, ces sels ont été employés comme précurseurs de NHC pour la réduction asymétrique de cétones aromatiques par transfert d’hydrogène. Les complexes formés se sont montrés actifs mais non énantiosélectifs. / This work deals with, at first, the synthesis of new chiral azolinium precursors to N-heterocyclic carbenes. Two families have been prepared from the L-proline. The structures of some NHC dimmers, thiones and [Rh-NHC] complexes were characterized and confirmed by different analysis methods.Secondly, these new salts were evaluated in the conjugate addition reaction of Grignard reagents to α,β-unsaturated ketones. The results obtained shown very good catalytic activity, excellent regioselectivity with moderate enantioselectivity. They were also involved in the allylic substitution reaction. Good catalytic activity was observed despite moderate regioselectivity and enantioselectivity. Finally, these azolinium salts were employed as NHC precursors for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones. The complexes proved to be active, but non enantioselective.

A presente tese trata das reações de sulfanilação de algumas 2-sulfinilciclanonas racêmicas pelo método de catálise por transferência de fase (CTF), seja usando cloreto de benziltrietilamônio (TEBAC) seja usando catalisador quirálico. As reações de sulfanilação pelo método de CTF empregando TEBAC, forneceram produtos sulfanilados em altos rendimentos (75-93%), enquanto que as reações empregando a mesma metodologia, utilizando catalisadores quirálicos, conduziram não só a altos rendimentos, mas também a um aumento no excesso diastereomérico. Foram determinadas as configurações relativas da 2metilsulfanil- 2-metilsulfinilciclopentanona e 2-p-tolilsulfanil-2metilsulfinilcicloexanona pela análise de difração de Raios-X como sendo 2S*SS*. A parte final da Tese contém reações de sulfanilação da 2-metilsulfinilciclopentanona e 2-metilsulfinilcicloexanona opticamente ativas. É digno de nota que estas, ao contrário da 2-p-tolilsulfinil ciclanonas, descritas na literatura, conduziram a produtos sulfanilados estáveis. Finalmente, a tese mostra um exemplo de condensação aldólica assimétrica partindo da 2-metilsulfanil-2-metilsulfinilcicloexanona opticamente ativa. Com base no conhecimento da configuração deste último composto, foi possível esclarecer o mecanismo da indução assimétrica. / This thesis presents the sulfanylation reactions of some racemic 2-methylsulfinil cyclanones, by phase transfer catalysis (PTC) method, employing as catalysts either benzyltriethylammonium chloride (BTAC) or some optically active catalysts. The sulfanilation reactions, employing BTAC furnished the sulfanylated products in high yields (75-93%) while the reactions performed by the same methodology, using chiral catalysts, led to higher yields and also to an increase in the diastereomeric excess. The relative configuration of 2-metilsulfanyl-2-methylsufinylcyclopentanone and of 2-p-tolylsulfanyl-2-methylsulfinylcyclohexanone, as determined by X-Ray diffraction analysis, showed to be 2S*SS*. The final part of this thesis reports the sulfanylation reactions of the optically active 2-methylsulfinylcyclopentanone and 2-methylsulfinylcyclohexanone, which, in contrast to the p-tolyl derivatives, described in the Iiterature, were stable derivatives. Finally, on the basis of the relative configuration of the optically active 2-methylsulfanyl-2-methylsulfinylcyclohexanone, it became possible to propose the stereochemical course of the asymmetric aldol reaction of this compound with an ester enolate.

Récemment, l'activation C-H catalysée par des métaux de transition est devenue un outil performant pour construire des liaisons carbone-carbone et carbone hétéroatome à partir de liaisons C-H omniprésentes dans les molécules organiques. Bien que l'activation des liaisons C-H aromatiques ait été largement étudiée ces dernières années, celle des liaisons C-H aliphatiques représente encore un domaine faiblement exploré. Notre équipe s'est depuis plusieurs années intéressée au développement méthodologique de l'activation C(sp3)-H et à son application en synthèse de produits naturels et molécules bioactives. Dans la continuité des récents travaux sur la version asymétrique de cette réaction, cette thèse décrit le développement et la synthèse de nouveaux ligands du type Binepine. Ces ligands chiraux et monodentates nous ont permis de réaliser la synthèse d'indanes chiraux possédant un centre asymétrique quaternaire, de manière hautement énantio- et diastéréosélective. Cette réaction présente comme avantages l'utilisation d'une faible charge catalytique et d'une température de réaction inférieure à 100 °C, sans aucun additif. Le champ d'application de la réaction inclut notamment l'activation des liaisons C-H d'un groupement méthylène, donnant ainsi accès à des systèmes fusionnés, tricycliques. La construction de molécules non-aromatiques via une alcénylation C-H intramoléculaire a été récemment décrite et s'avère très prometteuse pour la synthèse de produits naturels saturés. Dans la continuité de ces travaux innovants, nous avons développé la synthèse de γ-lactames à partir de bromoalcènes acycliques. Cette nouvelle réaction permet de construire de manière simple et efficace des hétérocycles a cinq chainons de façon modulaire, donnant ainsi la possibilité d'envisager des nouvelles déconnections rétrosynthétiques, complémentaires des méthodes déjà établies. Cette nouvelle méthode a pu être appliquée à la synthèse totale de l'alcaloïde marin Plakoridine A, dont la structure centrale cyclique a été synthétisée en quatre étapes avec un rendement global de 37% / Recently, transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation has emerged as a powerful tool to transform stable C-H bonds into carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bonds. While the activation of aromatic C-H bonds has seen a tremendous development, less effort has been devoted to the more challenging activation of aliphatic C-H bonds. Our group has a long-standing interest in the development of C(sp3)-H activation reactions and their application in the synthesis of natural products and bioactive compounds. In line with previous efforts to develop an asymmetric C(sp3)-H activation, the herein presented work details the synthesis of new Binepine ligands. These monodentate, chiral ligands enabled us to realize a highly dia- and enantioselective C(sp3)-H activation reaction allowing the construction of chiral quaternary carbon centers. Strong points of this robust method are the low catalyst loading, the low reaction temperature and the absence of additives. The substrate scope includes the rare activation of methylene C-H bonds leading to fused tricyclic carbocycles and heterocycles. The construction of non-aromatic molecules through intramolecular C-H alkenylation was recently disclosed and has great potential for the construction of saturated natural products. Based on seminal work, we have developed the synthesis of valuable γ- lactams from acyclic bromoalkenes. This new methodology offers a powerful way to build simple, five-membered N heterocycles in a modular fashion. Notably, it enables a new retrosynthetic disconnection which is complementary to conventional approaches. Finally, we set out to showcase its utility as key step in the total synthesis of the pyrrolidine alkaloid Plakoridine A. The cyclic core structure was accessed in four steps and 37% overall yield

L’essor de la chimie organométallique a permis de développer de nouvelles possibilités dans le domaine du diagnostic médical, en particulier pour la tomographie à émission de positrons (TEP). Ainsi, de nouvelles méthodologies ont été développées pour permettre la synthèse de bio-traceurs avec le marquage au 11C comme étape finale. Dans ce contexte, notre équipe a récemment développé une nouvelle méthodologie pour marquer une large variété de substrats dans des conditions standards de carbonylation et ces travaux de thèse présentent une nouvelle stratégie de synthèse impliquant la préformation de complexes palladiés supportées. Ainsi, leurs ancrages préalables sur une résine facilitent la réaction de carbonylation en simplifiant leur purification. De nouveaux complexes à base de palladium ont aussi été synthétisés et étudiés pour envisager de potentielles applications en catalyse photorédox. Enfin le développement de nouvelles stratégies de couplage impliquant des intermédiaires d’or (III) étant un domaine en plein expansion, notamment lorsqu’elles combinent catalyse à l’or et photorédox, il a été envisagé de synthétiser de nouveaux complexes d’or afin d’étudier les mécanismes réactionnels impliqués dans ces couplages et d’évaluer les possibilités de synthèse de composés biaryliques atropoisomériques. / The growth of organometallic chemistry has allowed numerous developments in the field of medical diagnosis, especially for Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Developing new methodologies for the synthesis of biological tracers by a last-step 11C labeling, our team has been recently able to take advantage of the great functional tolerance of palladium-catalyzed carbonylation to achieve this goal. A new synthetic strategy involving preformed palladium complexes is described in this manuscript. Their anchoring on a polystyrene resin allowed subsequently to facilitate the carbonylation process by simplifying the purification. New palladium complexes have also been investigated for their potential photoredox applications. Finally, new coupling strategies implying gold (III) intermediates and photoredox catalysis being a very attractive subject, new gold complexes have been synthetized in order to investigate the reaction mechanisms that could operate. Possibilities of asymmetric induction in the synthesis of atropoisomeric biaryl compounds were also studied.

<p>This thesis describes the synthesis and application of new chiral bicyclic ligands and their application in asymmetric catalysis. The studies involved: [i] The development of novel chiral bicyclic amino sulfur ligands and their use in transfer hydrogenation. [ii] The development of the kinetic resolution of racemic epoxide through the use of chiral lithium amides. [iii] The synthesis and application of chiral bicyclic amine in the organocatalysed epoxidation of alkenes. [iv] Development and application of new chiral diamine ligands in the rearrangement of epoxides into allylic alcohols.</p><p>[i] The preparation of two-series of amino thiol ligands based on the structure of camphor is described, together with their application in the iridium-catalysed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone using isopropanol as the hydrogen source. Excellent activity and good enantioselectivity have been achieved using 2 mol% of chiral ligand in combination with [IrCl(COD)]2.</p><p>[ii] The chiral diamines (1S,3R,4R)-3-(pyrrolidine-1-ylmethyl)-2-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane and its (2R,5R)-dimethylpyrrolidine derivative were applied to the kinetic resolution of a variety of racemic 5-7 membered cycloalkene oxides with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) as the bulk base. Using 5 mol% of the chiral diamines, both unreacted epoxides and allylic alcohols could be produced in enantiomeric excess up to 99%.</p><p>[iii] The synthesis of chiral bicyclic amines and their use in the organocatalysed epoxidation of alkene has been described. Using a substoichiometric amount of the chiral amines and aldehydes as ligands precursors, with Oxone® as oxidant, a good activity but moderate enantioselectivity was observed for the epoxidation of trans-stilbene. </p><p>[iv] The preparation of 6-substituted-7-bromo-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes via nucleophilic addition of organocopper reagents to 3-bromo-1-azoniatricyclo[2.2.1.0]heptyle bromide has been described. These compounds have been utilised as chiral building blocks in the preparation of novel chiral diamine ligands, which have been successfully applied to the catalysed asymmetric rearrangement of epoxide into the corresponding allylic alcohol.</p>

<p>The synthesis of 2-aza-norborane derivatives is presented. The use of these compounds in preparation of Ir catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenations is described. The evaluation and optimization of the catalysts as well as the mechanistic aspects of the catalytic process are discussed.</p><p>The use of non-activated iminodieniphiles in stereoselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction has expanded the scope of the reaction and provided a convenient root for preparation of 2-aza-norboranes, analogues of which were developed into novel bicyclic 2-aza-norbornyl-oxazoline ligands for Ir-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenations. Using ths Ir complexes acetophenone was hydrogenated in 79% ee.</p><p>2-Aza-norbornyl-oxazolines were also developed into novel N,P-ligands. Resulting phosphine-oxazolines were evaluated in Ir-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of structurally diverse imines and olefins.</p><p>Optimization of ligands was performed through: 1) Alteration of the stereoconfiguration at the 5’-position as well as variation of the size and geometry of the substituents at this position; 2) Screening through various phosphine substituents of the ligand. Both directions of optimization reflect on the influence of the ligands’ sterik bulk on stereoselectivity of catalytic process. High performance catalysts were developed for both transformations allowing asymmetric hydrogenation of imines with 92% ee and asymmetric hydrogenation of olefins with 99% ee.</p><p>Possible mechanisms for these transformations were suggested based on computational studies. Selectivity model for rationalization of results of Ir-catalyzed olefin hydrogenation also was designed.</p>