Treatment of 1-(methylsulfinyl)-2-(phenylethynyl)benzene with 10 mol % of mercury dichloride and 1 equivalent of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone in refluxing benzene gave benzo[b]thiophene in good yields. This method tolerated various functional groups in phenylethynyl moiety, including electron donating groups and electron withdrawing groups. Useing 1-(benzylsulfinyl)-2-(phenylethynyl)benzene as reaction substrate increased the yields of benzo[b]thiophene derivatives. Isotope effect showed that this cyclization reaction belong to Pummerer type cyclization reaction.

Cell surface saccharides are involved in a variety of essential biological events. Fluorescent sensors for saccharides can be used for detection, diagnosis, analysis and monitoring of pathological processes. The boronic acid functional group is known to bind strongly and reversibly to compounds with diol groups, which are commonly found on saccharides. Sensors that have been developed for the purpose of saccharide recognition have shown great potential. However, they are very hydrophobic and this lack of essential water-solubility makes them useful in biological applications. The first section of this dissertation details the process of developing water-soluble saccharide sensors that change fluorescent properties upon binding to saccharides. The second section of the dissertation focuses on the development of DNA-minor groove binders as antiparasitical agents. Parasitical diseases comprise some of the world’s largest health problems and yet current medication and treatments for these parasitical diseases are often difficult to administer, costly to the patients, and have disruptive side effects. Worse yet, these parasites are developing drug resistance, thus creating an urgent need for new treatments. Dicationic molecules constitute a class of antimicrobial drug candidates that possess high activity against various parasites. The second section details the development of a series of di-cationic agents that were then screened in in vitro activities against parasitical species.