Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Dithiadiazolyl heterocyclic radicals form part of an ever-growing research field in the quest for organic magnets and conducting materials due to the lone electron located within the heterocyclic ring. These compounds could potentially be used as electrical current conductors and transistors which may be developed into a molecular switch or other types of molecular devices. This thesis describes the successful synthesis of three nitrile functionalised calix[4]arenes, mono-, distal- and tetra-, as bulky scaffolds to be used as precursors in the synthesis of dithiadiazolyl functionalised calix[4]arenes. The crystal structures of these three nitriles are reported herein for the first time. Dithiadiazolyls tend to dimerise in the solid state, thus by selecting a calix[4]arene as a bulky R-group, it was hoped to inhibit dimerisation. Furthermore, synthesis of the radicals on different positions of the calix[4]arene may also inhibit dimerisation in the solid state. The typical reaction in the synthesis of dithiadiazolyls involves the reaction between a nitrile and lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide followed by the formation of the dithiadiazolylium chloride salt by the addition of sulfur dichloride. The salt is subsequently reduced giving the desired dithiadiazolyl. However, the addition of lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide to mono-nitrile calix[4]arene in the synthesis of the mono-dithiadiazolyl functionalised calix[4]arene was unsuccessful. To investigate the incompatible nature of the electrophile and nucleophile, computational and physical experiments were conducted on the mono-nitrile calix[4]arene derivative. These avenues were pursued to determine whether the unreactive nature of the nitrile in this case is due to electronic effects. Changes in the reaction conditions (i.e. temperature, solvent and the equivalents of nucleophile) were all varied, but this proved to be unsuccessful. Computationally, through charge calculations, it was determined that the electronic properties of the nitrile were similar to that of nitrile examples known to work in the literature. Therefore, it was established that steric effects of the calix[4]arene are playing a critical role in the unreactive nature of the nitrile. There are two non-degenerate LUMO orbitals for the nitrile as one is conjugated and the other is planar (LUMO + 1) to the aromatic system. It has been established that nucleophilic attack through the lowest energy LUMO would result in a high energy transition state due to the loss of conjugation and attack through the higher energy LUMO + 1 would result in a lower energy transition state. However, this was not possible due to the steric conditions surrounding its position relative to the nitrile. The results obtained from this study were, therefore, able to confirm that the normally suitable reaction procedure seems to be limited to less sterically encumbered nitriles. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dithiadiazolyl heterosikliese radikale vorm deel van 'n steeds groeiende navorsingsveld in die soeke na organiese magnete en material met geleidingsvermoë as gevolg van die ongepaarde elektron wat binne in die heterosikliese ring geleë is. Hierdie verbindings kan moontlik gebruik word as elektriese stroom geleiers en transistors wat tot 'n molekulêre skakelaar of ander tipe molekulêre toestelle ontwikkel kan word. Hierdie tesis beskryf die suksesvolle sintese van drie nitriel gefunksionaliseerde calix[4]arene, mono-, distale- en tetra-, as lywige steiers om as voorgangers in die sintese van dithiadiazolyl gefunksionaliseerde calix[4]arene gebruik te word. Die kristal strukture van hierdie drie nitriele is hier in vir die eerste keer gerapporteer. Dithiadiazolyls is geneig om te dimeriseer in die vaste toestand. Daarom is die redenasie agter die keuse van die calix[4]arene as 'n lywige R-groep, as dimeriseering te inhibeer. Sintese van die radikale op verskillende posisies van die calix[4]arene kan dimeriseering in die vaste toestand inhibeer. Die tipiese reaksie in die sintese van dithiadiazolyls behels die reaksie tussen 'n nitriel en litium bis(trimetielsiliel)amied gevolg deur die vorming van die dithiadiazolylium chloried sout deur die byvoeging van swaeldichloried. Die sout is dan gereduseer om die gewenste dithiadiazolyl te vorm. Die toevoeging van litium bis(trimethielsiliel)amied mono-nitriel calix[4]arene in die sintese van die mono-dithiadiazolyl calix[4]arene was egter onsuksesvol. Om die oënskynlik onverenigbare aard van die electrofiel en nukleofiel te ondersoek, is rekenaar-berekeninge en fisiese eksperimente uitgevoer op die mono-nitriel calix[4]arene afgeleide. Hierdie twee maniere is gevolg om te bepaal of die onreaktiewe aard van die nitriel in hierdie geval as gevolg van elektroniese effekte is. Wysigings in die reaksie omstandighede (d.w.s. temperatuur, oplosmiddel en die ekwivalente van nukleofiel) is gemaak, maar dit was onsuksesvol. Deur middle van ladings-berekeninge, is dit bepaal dat die elektroniese eienskappe van die nitriel soortgelyk is aan dié van nitriel voorbeelde wat in die literatuur geraporteer is. Daarom is dit vasgestel dat die steriese effekte van die calix[4]arene 'n kritieke rol in die onreaktiewe aard van die nitrile speel. Daar is nie-ontaarde LUMO orbitale vir die nitriel soos 'n mens is vervoeg en die ander is planêr (LUMO + 1) na die aromatiese stelsel. Daar is vasgestel dat nukleofieliese aanval deur die laagste energie LUMO sal lei tot 'n hoë energie oorgangstoestand as gevolg van die verlies van konjugasie. Aanval deur die hoër energie LUMO + 1 sou lei tot 'n laer energie oorgangstoestand. Dit was egter nie moontlik nie, as gevolg van die steries toestande rondom die orbital se posisie met betrekking tot die nitriel. Die resultate van hierdie studie bevestig, dus, dat die gewone reaksie proses beperk is tot minder steries verhinderde nitriele.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Calixarenes are large cyclic molecules that have a distinctive bowl-shaped geometry. The nonplanar nature of these molecules means that, by selectively functionalizing the calixarene on one side of the symmetry plane, one introduces inherent chirality. As with other varieties of chirality, this asymmetry can be utilised to impart stereoselectivity to the formation of new bonds through asymmetric catalysis. The evaluation of inherently chiral calixarenes has been hindered thus far by the difficulty in obtaining enantiomerically pure samples. Using a recently developed stereoselective methodology, incorporating chiral oxazoline directed ortholithiation, the synthesis of a series of upper-rim meta-substituted inherently chiral calixarenes is described. With the use of this methodology, the desired calixarene ligands are synthesised in high diastereoselectivity (from 75% de to >99% de). The inherently chiral meta-substituted bidentate thioether-oxazoline calixarenes synthesised were subsequently investigated as asymmetric ligands for palladium catalysed allylic alkylation. The debutylated series of calixarenes showed good catalytic efficiency, achieving high levels of conversion (>90% isolated yield). A rate enhancement relative to a planar model system was observed. Moderate levels of enantioselectivity (31% ee to 89% ee) were achieved. The influence of the central chirality of the chiral oxazoline was determined to be the predominant stereoselective effect. Increasing the steric bulk on this chiral carbon resulted in a significant increase in the stereoselectivity. Inherent chirality was found to have a subtle but significant effect. Increasing the steric bulk on the calixarene bowl, through the use of analogous tert-butylated calixarene, had an adverse effect on the catalytic efficiency. These ligands formed unstable complexes that decomposed before any appreciable yield of the desired product could be formed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Calixarene is groot sikliese molekule met 'n kenmerkende bak-vormige meetkunde. Die nie-planêre aard van hierdie molekules beteken dat selektiewe functionaliseering van die calixareen op een kant van die simmetrievlak vorm 'n inherente chirale molekuul. Soos met ander soorte van chiraliteit, hierdie asymmetrie kan gebruik word om stereoselektiwiteit aan die vorming van nuwe bindings aan te dra, deur middel van asimmetriese katalise. Die evaluering van inherente chirale calixarene dusver is verhinder deur probleme in die verkryging van enantiomeerisesuiwer monsters. Met behulp van 'n onlangse ontwikkelde stereoselektief metodologie, waarin ‘n chirale oksasolien gerig ortolitiëring, die sintese van 'n reeks van boonste rand meta-gefunksionaliseerde inherent chirale calixarene word beskryf. Met die gebruik van hierdie metodologie, word die verlangde calixareen ligande gesintetiseer in hoë diastereoselektiwiteit (van 75% to t 99% do). Die inherente chirale meta-gefunktionaliseerde tio-eter oksasolien calixarene gesintetiseer is daarna as asimmetriese ligande vir palladium-gekataliseerde allyliese alkilering ondersoek. Die gedebutieleerde reeks van calixarene het goeie katalitiese effektiwiteit getoon, met die bereiking van hoë vlakke van omsetting (> 90% geïsoleerde opbrengs). ‘n Tempoverbetering relatief tot 'n planêre modelstelsel is waargeneem. Gematige vlakke van enantioselektiwiteit (31% eo tot 89% eo) is behaal. Die invloed van die sentrale chiraliteit van die chirale oksasolien is bepaal as die oorheersende stereoselektiewe effek. Die verhoging van die steriese massa op hierdie chirale koolstof het gelei tot 'n beduidende toename in die stereoselektiwiteit. Inherente chiraliteit is gevind om 'n subtiele, maar betekenisvolle uitwerking te hê. Die verhoging van die steriese grootmaat op die calixarene bak, deur die gebruik van analoog tert-butieleerde calixarene, het 'n nadelige uitwerking op die katalitiese effektiwiteit. Hierdie ligande vorm onstabiel komplekse dat ontbind voordat enige aansienlike opbrengs van die verlangde produk kan gevorm word.

Calixarenes, particularly calix[4]arenes, continue to attract considerable attention in synthetic chemistry, notably as platforms for designing sophisticated molecular cages and claw-like ligands. Incorporation of phosphorus containing fragments into the calix[4]arene framework gives rise to new class of phosphorus ligands, called “calixphosphines”, a class of molecules that combine a catalytic center (a transition metal) and a molecular receptor. This area of research has been growing rapidly in recent years. This thesis deals with the synthesis and a systematic study of conformational aspects of phosphorus functionalized calix[4]arene ligands and their palladium complexes. Several phosphorus functionalized calix[4]arene ligands and their (allyl) palladium complexes have been synthesized. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, NMR and IR spectroscopic data. The molecular structures of some representative compounds have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Chapter 1 provides a brief overview of phosphorus functionalized calix[4]arenes and their transition metal chemistry with emphasis on aspects related to the theme of the present study. The scope and aim of the present investigation is outlined at the end of this chapter. Chapter 2 presents the results obtained in the present investigation and a discussion of these results, especially spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic data. The highlights of the present investigation and possible future directions are summarized at the end of this chapter. Chapter 3 contains relevant details of the experimental procedures for the synthesis of calix[4]arene phosphite ligands and their palladium complexes. Spectroscopic and analytical data of these compounds are also given in this chapter. The details of single crystal diffraction studies are included at the end of this chapter. The references to the literature are compiled at the end of the thesis and are indicated in the text by appropriate numbers appearing as superscripts. The compounds synthesized in the present study are represented by bold arabic numerals. The abbreviations employed in this thesis are those generally used in Chemical Abstracts.