This thesis describes novel reaction protocols for the synthesis of diaryliodonium salts and also provides an insight to the mechanism of α-arylation of carbonyl compounds with diaryliodonium salts.  The first chapter gives a general introduction to the field of hypervalent iodine chemistry, mainly focusing on recent developments and applications of diaryliodonium salts. Chapter two describes the synthesis of electron-rich to electron-poor diaryliodonium triflates, in moderate to excellent yields from a range of arenes and iodoarenes. In chapter three, it is described that molecular iodine can be used together with arenes in a direct one-pot, three-step synthesis of symmetric diaryliodonium triflates. A large scale synthesis of bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium triflate is also described, controlled and verified by an external research group, further demonstrating the reliability of this methodology. The fourth chapter describes the development of a sequential one-pot synthesis of diaryliodonium salts from aryl iodides and boronic acids, furnishing symmetric and unsymmetric, electron-rich to electron-poor diaryliodonium tetrafluoroborates in moderate to excellent yields. This method was developed to overcome the regiochemical limitations imposed by the reaction mechanism in the protocols described in the preceding chapters. Chapter five describes a one-pot synthesis of heteroaromatic iodonium salts under similar conditions described in chapter two. The final chapter describes the reaction of enolates with chiral diaryliodonium salts or together with a phase transfer catalyst yielding racemic products. DFT calculations were performed, which revealed a low lying energy transition state (TS) between intermediates, which is believed to be responsible for the lack of selectivity observed in the experimental work. It is also proposed that a [2,3] rearrangement is preferred over a [1,2] rearrangement in the α-arylation of carbonyl compounds. The synthetic methodology described in this thesis is the most generally applicable, efficient and high-yielding to date for the synthesis of diaryliodonium salts, making these reagents readily available for various applications in synthesis.

La mise au point de méthodologies de synthèse permettant d’obtenir des substances énantiopures présentant une diversité structurale importante est une préoccupation majeure de la chimie contemporaine. L’efficacité de ces approches doit être désormais évaluée au regard de critères tel que la pureté optique et l’analyse de l’impact écologique des processus mis en jeu. Au cours de ce travail nous avons développé de nouvelles méthodologies permettant d’accéder à des γ-lactones polyfonctionnelles chirales. La 5-hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one, petite molécule bio-sourcée, a servi d’élément clé pour la construction du cycle γ-lactone. Dans une première approche, des γ-lactones chirales possédant une grande diversité structurale ont été obtenues par une séquence réactionnelle « one pot ». Une première étape de catalyse organique a permis d’activer le transfert énantiosélectif d’acides boroniques sur la 5-hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one ; l’adduit chiral obtenu a ensuite été engagé dans une réaction de Passerini pour construire le cycle lactone. Dans une deuxième partie, nous avons mis au point des réactions d’alkylation de γ-lactones, catalytiques et énantiosélectives, pour la formation de γ-lactones possédant un centre quaternaire. L’utilisation de complexes du palladium et de l’iridium a permis d’effectuer des réactions d’Alkylation Allylique Asymétrique avec un très bon contrôle de l’induction asymétrique. Le squelette carboné des lactones obtenues par AAA a permis d’effectuer une fonctionnalisation inédite d’hétérocycles aromatiques par des réactions sigmatropiques [3,3]. Enfin des réactions d’alkylations énantiosélectives induites par un catalyseur organique ont été évaluées. / The development of new synthetic pathway leading to enantiopure compounds with significant structural diversity is an ongoing challenge in many fields of chemistry. The efficiency of these processes has to be evaluated, not only in term of quantitative criteria, such as yields and/or optical purities of obtained compounds, but also by analyzing the environmental impact of the different processes involved. In this work, we sought to develop new methodologies for the synthesis of polyfunctional chiral γ-lactones. The 5-hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one, a bio-based molecule, was used as a platform to the construction of the γ-lactone ring. In the first part of our work, a variety of chiral γ-lactone displaying a great structural diversity were obtained by a one-pot sequential reaction. First, a step of enantioselective organocatalysis allowed the activation for the transfer of boronic acids on the hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one; then the chiral adduct formed was engaged in a Passerini reaction leading to the construction of the lactone ring. In a second part, our efforts focused then on the development of catalytic asymmetric alkylation reactions leading to the construction of γ-lactones bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter. Asymmetric allylic reactions were carried out with a very good control of the selectivity of the reaction by the use of palladium and iridium complexes catalysts. Theses lactones bearing an [1,5]-diene scaffold were then engaged in a sigmatropic [3,3] reaction opening a path for a new approach to the functionalization of aromatic heterocycles. Finally, the use of organic enantioselective catalysis was envisioned for the creation of all-quaternary stereocenters.

(2-Acetyl­ferrocen-1-yl)boronic acid, [Fe(C5H5)(C7H8BO3)] or 2-C(O)CH3-1-B(OH)2–Fc [Fc = Fe(η5-C5H3)(η5-C5H5)], crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P21/n. The boronic acid functionality inter­acts via intra­molecular hydrogen bonds with the acetyl group and with the –B(OH)2 functionality of an adjacent mol­ecule. The resulting centrosymmetric dimer exhibits an anti-positioning of the ferrocenyl moieties towards the central B2O4 plane. Consequently, an (Rp,Sp)-, i.e. a meso configuration is present for this dimer. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds consolidate the mol­ecular packing.

Exposomics applies metabolomics methods and technologies to the comprehensive analysis of all low molecular weight molecules (< 1.5 kDa) in complex biological samples to characterize the interaction between cellular metabolism and exogenous lifestyle exposures that determine health and quality of life. To fully access the diverse classes of biological molecules related to an individual’s metabolic profile, metabolomics frequently requires the use of complementary analytical platforms, and employs targeted and untargeted molecular profiling strategies to identify biomarkers that are clinically relevant to an individual’s health status. Chapter 2 describes a quinoline-based boronic acid biosensor for N-acetylneuraminic acid that undergoes a striking binding enhancement under strongly acidic conditions. For the first time, this work allows for direct analysis of acidic sugars with high selectivity when using UV absorbance or fluorescence detection based on formation of a highly stable boronate ester complex with metabolites containing an α-hydroxycarboxylate moiety. Chapter 3 describes a targeted analysis of 24 different organic contaminants using GC-MS that can serve as biomarkers of recent smoke exposure following search-and-rescue training exercises by firefighters located at three different sites across the province of Ontario. Importantly, skin and possible respiratory uptake of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, methoxyphenols, and resin acids was confirmed by peak excretion of several wood smoke biomarkers in urine within 6 h following acute exposure. Chapter 4 applied a cross-platform metabolomics strategy based on CE-MS and GC-MS in order to identify and validate dietary biomarkers in matching plasma and urine samples collected from healthy participants in the pilot Diet and Gene Interaction Study (DIGEST). For the first time, we demonstrate that a panel of metabolites can serve as reliable biomarkers following contrasting Prudent and Western diets over 2 weeks of food provisions, which correlated well with self-reported diet records. This work paves the way for the development of objective biomarkers for accurate assessment of wood smoke exposures, as well as complex dietary patterns as required for new advances in occupational health and nutritional epidemiology. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Exposomics is an emerging multidisciplinary science aimed at deciphering the complex interactions that impact human health and gene expression, such as lifestyle choices (i.e., habitual diet) and lifelong environmental exposures. There is growing interest in identifying biomarkers that can be readily measured for chronic disease prevention given an alarming global prevalence of obesity and cardiometabolic disorders, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. The research in this thesis focuses on developing new analytical methods for identifying and quantifying metabolites that may allow for better assessments of human health, and has contributed to the development of novel biosensors for the targeted analysis of N-acetylneuraminic (sialic) acid and related acidic sugars, as well as high resolution methods for broad spectrum analysis of biotransformed organic contaminants from smoke exposure by GC-MS, and plasma and urinary metabolites that differentiate contrasting Prudent and Western diets and correlate well with self-reported diet records.