The versatility of organoboron compounds has been demonstrated by their use as synthetic intermediates and more recently in therapeutic applications since the FDA approval of Velcade©. As a result, transition metal-catalyzed protocols to incorporate boron reagents into unsaturated compounds have been extensively researched. While an abundance of literature protocols have been reported, the majority utilize harsh reaction conditions in combination with expensive reagents. This dissertation discloses the author’s contributions to the development of efficient, cost-effective, and operationally simple transition metal-catalyzed borylation protocols with alkynes and diboron reagents. An open-to-air copper(II)-catalyzed aqueous borylation protocol of alkynoates and a symmetrical diboron reagent is reported. Conjugate addition of the boryl-copper species to the electrophilic β-carbon provided β-boryl-α,β-unsaturated esters in moderate to excellent yields. Exclusive (Z)-stereochemistry was confirmed by nOe experiments. The resulting vinyl boronate esters are useful cross-coupling partners. The scope of the aqueous β-borylation protocol was extended to the unsymmetrical diboron reagent, pinB-Bdan. This alternative protecting group has emerged as an orthogonal protecting group and alters the reactivity of the boron moiety. Activation of the pinacol moiety to form the Lewis acid-base adduct allowed for the chemoselective transfer of the 1,8- diaminonapthalene moiety to the β-carbon. An alternative novel synthesis of vinyl, allyl diboronate esters from propargylic alcohols has also been described. Formation of a leaving group in-situ with a palladium- and coppercatalyzed protocol can lead to several competing reaction pathways and the formation of multiple products. Fortunately, the resulting vinyl, allyl diboronate esters were stereoselectively synthesized in moderate GC yields despite significate decomposition during purification, as confirmed by stability studies. The terminal diboration of allenes was previously the only reported method for the synthesis of vinyl, allyl diboronate esters. / Ph. D.

Organoboron compounds are highly valued synthetic intermediates due to their diverse array of reactivity, which is often utilized in the synthesis of valuable organic molecules. For this reason, there is significant interest in the development of novel borylation protocols, especially those whose products are suitable for further synthetic transformations towards valuable classes of compounds. Research in organoboron synthesis has been geared heavily toward transition metal-catalyzed addition to double and triple bonds, though an increasing number of publications detail transition metal-free borylation techniques involving substrate-mediated activation of a diboron reagent. This dissertation describes the author's contributions to the development of both a transition metal-catalyzed diboration and a transition metal-free protoboration. A transition metal-free diboration of alkynamides is described in Chapter 1 which uses the unsymmetrical, differentially protected diboron reagent, pinBBdan. The method installs both boron moieties in a regio- and stereoselective fashion. The products have synthetic value because they are shown to have chemoselectivity in downstream cross-coupling reactions; chemoselectivity is made possible by to the significant difference in Lewis acidity of the pinacol and diaminonapthalene-protected boron centers. This method allows for facile synthesis of tetrasubstituted alkenes with a set geometry about the double bond. A protoboration of allenes employing a Cu(II) catalyst under aqueous and atmospheric conditions is described. Though Cu(I)-catalyzed allene protoboration is well-described in the literature, this is the first report of an analogous Cu(II)-mediated process. The selectivity of the reaction is ligand-controlled, and moderate to good regioselectivities and yields can be achieved through use of a triphenylphosphine as ligand. The method is an environmentally friendly and facile means by which to borylate a challenging cumulated substrate. / Ph. D. / Organoboron compounds are valuable because of their ability to undergo a wide variety of chemical transformations, and they are often used as intermediates in the synthesis of challenging target molecules. In order for this reactivity to be exploited, methods must exist for the efficient synthesis of the desired boron-containing compound. This dissertation describes the author’s contributions to the development of two new methods by which to synthesize organoboron products. The first method involves installation of two differently ligated boron moieties onto an alkynamide substrate to produce a single, uncommon trans isomer as product. A synthetic application of these diboration products is described. The second method involves installation of a single boron moiety into allenes. Though the same overall transformation has been achieved in the literature with use of highly air-sensitive catalysts and organic solvents, the described method entails use of air-stable CuSO4 as catalyst and water as solvent. Therefore, the method is operationally simple and environmentally friendly relative to previously described methods.

No description available.

The thesis entitled “Design and Development of Synthetic Methods using Metal-mediated and Metal-free Redox Reactions: Novel C-H Activations, Reductions and Oxidative Transformations” is presented in 4 chapters Chapter 1; Iodine catalyzed amination of benzoxazoles: efficient metal free route to 2-aminobenzoxazoles under mild conditions. The Chapter 1 of this thesis describes iodine catalyzed C-H activation of benzoxazole with primary and secondary amines to form oxidative aminated products. Selective C-H oxidation is a frontline area of modern chemical research as it offers the opportunities to new avenues and more direct synthetic strategies for the synthesis of complex organic molecules.1 In this context, transition metals such as palladium copper, nickel etc, are used extensively for the functional group directed C-H activation, and thus provides new, rapid, low-cost, and environmentally benign protocols for the construction of new chemical bonds.2 During the past two decades iodine and hypervalent iodine have been focus of great attention as they provide mild, chemoselective and environmentally benign strategies in contrast to toxic metal oxidants.3 In this chapter, a facile metal-free route of oxidative amination of benzoxazole with secondary or primary amines in the presence of catalytic amount of iodine (5 mol%) in aq tert-butyl hydroperoxide (1equiv) and AcOH (1.1 equiv) at ambient temperature, under the solvent-free reaction condition is presented. This user-friendly method to form C-N bonds produces tert-butanol and water as the by-products, which are environmentally benign. A wide range of benzoxazole derivatives containing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups were coupled with both primary and secondary amines (Scheme 1). Application of this methodology is demonstrated by synthesizing therapeutically active benzoxazoles by reacting 5-chloro-7-methylbenzoxazole with N-methylpiperazine and N-ethylhomopiperazine to obtain corresponding N-aminatedbenzaxozoles, which exhibit antidiarrhetic activity (Scheme 2).4 Scheme 2 Chapter 2: NIS catalyzed reactions. amidation of acetophenones and oxidative amination of propiophenones Chapter 2 is divided in to 2 parts. Part 1 describes the synthesis of α-ketoamides by using acetophenone and secondary amine in the presence of N-iodosuccinamide and TBHP in acetonitrile at room temperature, whereas Part 2 reveals the synthesis of 2-aminoketones by reacting aryl alkyl ketones and suitable secondary amine in the presence of NIS and TBHP. Part 1: Oxidative amidation, synthesis of α-ketoamide: Alpha α-ketoamides are important intermediates in organic synthesis that are present in a variety of natural products, and pharmaceutically active compounds. Herein, a mild and efficient conversion of acetophenones to α-ketoamide is documented by using aq.TBHP and N-iodosuccinamide (NIS) as a catalyst, at ambient temperature. This amidation reaction was found to be versatile as several aetophenone derivitives containing electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents underwent a facile amidation. It was also found that acetyl derivatives of heterocylic compounds could be easily converted to their corresponding ketoamides (few examples are shown in Scheme 3).5 Scheme3 Part 2 of Chapter 2 narrates a novel amination of propiophenone and its derivatives catalysed by NIS in the presence of TBHP to furnish their corresponding 2-aminoketone derivatives (Scheme 4). These derivatives are ubiquitous scaffolds that are present in a wide variety of therapeutic agents. Some of these compounds are used in the treatment of depression, smoking cessation, as monoamine uptake inhibitors, rugs for cancer. They are photoinitiators, precursors to β-aminoalcohols, such as pseudoephedrine analogues. 2-Aminoacetophenone analogues are also important intermediates for the formation of several heterocyclic compounds and are active moieties in several important drugs such as ifenprodil, Scheme 4. Chapter 3: Efficient oxidation of primary azides to nitriles This Chapter is divided in to 2 parts, which presents the oxidation of primary azides to their corresponding nitriles. Part 1: An Efficient oxidation of primary azides catalyzed by copper iodide: a convenient method for the synthesis of nitriles In Part 1, an efficient oxidation of primary azides catalyzed by copper iodide to their corresponding nitriles is reported. Herein, the oxidation of primary azide to nitrile is performed using catalytic amount of copper iodide, and aq TBHP in water at 100 ° C. This methodology is compatible with a wide range of primary benzylic azides that contain electron-donating and electron-withdrawing functional groups. The oxidation was found to be selective and a number of oxidizable functional groups were well-tolerated during the reaction conditions (few examples are shown in Scheme 5).6 Scheme 6 Furthermore, oxidation of secondary azides furnished the corresponding ketones in excellent yields (Scheme 6).6 In the Part 2 of Chapter 3, a non-metal catalysed oxidation of primary azides to nitriles at ambient temperature is reported. This part reveals the oxidation of primary azides to nitriles by employing catalytic amounts of KI (25 mol%), DABCO (25 mol%) and aq. TBHP (3 equiv., 70% solution in water). This reaction provides a good selectivity, as double and triple bonds were not oxidized under the reaction conditions. Additionally, chemoselective oxidation of benzylicazides against aliphatic azides increases the potential application of the present method (Scheme 7).7 Chapter 4: Chemoeselective reduction of olefins Part 1: Iron chloride catalysed aerobic reduction of olefins using aqueous hydrazine at ambient temperature Chapter 4 describes the reduction olefins and acetylenes, which is presented in two Parts. Part 1 documents utility of hydrazine (1.5 equiv) for the chemoselective reduction of nonpolarised carbon-carbon bond using iron catalysts. In this part, a chemoselective reduction of alkenes and alkynes in the presence of a variety of reducible functional groups is demonstrated (Scheme 8). The highlight of the present method is that the reduction proceeds well at room temperature and requires only 1.5 equiv of hydrazine hydrate. The olefin reduction by hydrazine depends upon the controlled release of diimide during the reduction. Generally, metal catalyzed reduction of olefins employ a large excess of hydrazine (10-20 equiv), which might be attributed to uncontrolled release of diimide during the reduction.8 Scheme 8 Part 2: Guanidine catalyzed aerobic reduction: a selective aerobic hydrogenation of olefins using aqueous hydrazine In Chapter 4, part 2, organocatalytic generation of diimide and its utility to reduce the double bonds is presented. Generation of diimide in situ by using organo catalysts and its use for the reduction of carbon-carbon double bond is one of the interesting topics in organic chemistry. It has been shown in this part of the thesis that the reduction of olefin at room temperature can be efficiently performed by using 10 mol% of guanidine nitrate, 2 equiv of aqueous hydrazine in oxygen atmosphere. This method tolerates a variety of reducible functional groups such as nitro, azido, and bromo and protective groups such as methyl ethers, benzyl ethers, and Cbz groups. It is also shown that terminal olefin can be selectively reduced in the presence of internal olefin (Scheme 9). Unlike other methods that employ diimide strategy, the present method is shown to be efficient in reducing substrates those contain internal double bonds such as cinnamyl alcohol and its derivatives

Recent studies have shown that general-base assisted catalysis is a viable mechanistic pathway for hydrolysis of smaller anhydrides. Therefore, it is the central purpose of the present work to compare and contrast the number of hydrogen atoms in-flight and stationary in the transition state structure of the base-catalyzed mechanisms of 2 hydrolytic reactions as well as determine if any solvent effects occur on the mechanisms. The present research focuses on the hydrolytic mechanisms of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetic anhydride in alkali media of varying deuterium oxide mole fractions. Acetic anhydride has been included in this study to enable comparisons with DMF hydrolysis. Comparative studies may give synergistic insight into the detailed structural features of the activated complexes for both systems. Hydrolysis reactions in varying deuterium oxide mole fractions were conducted in concentrations of 2.0M, 2.5M, and 3.0M for DMF and 0.10M for acetic anhydride at 25°C. Studies in varying deuterium mole fractions allow for proton inventory analysis, which sheds light on the number and types of hydrogen atoms involved in the activated complex. For these systems, this type of study can distinguish between direct nucleophilic attack of the hydroxide ion on the carbonyl center and general-base catalysis by the hydroxide ion to facilitate a water molecule attacking the carbonyl center. The numerical data are used to discuss 3 possible mechanisms in the hydrolysis of DMF.

No description available.

Thesis advisor: Amir Hoveyda / Chapter 1: A review of recent iron catalyzed cross coupling advances. Abstract: Herein, advances in iron catalyzed cross coupling from 2010-2015 are thoroughly reviewed. Newly developed protocols and the mechanistic work that has been conducted to gain understanding of these systems are discussed. Specific emphasis is placed on the techniques used for mechanistic investigations. Chapter 2: Cross coupling applications of pyridyl(diimine) iron complexes. Abstract: Versatile and redox noninnocent pyridyl(diimine) iron complexes were explored for catalytic ability in iron catalyzed cross coupling reactions. These complexes were found active for the coupling of benzyl halides and aryl Grignard reagents, producing moderate yields. Although active for the coupling of cyclohexyl chloride and aryl Grignard reagents, the catalytic ability of these complexes was not general for alkyl halides, and the majority of substrates readily underwent β- hydride elimination. Mechanistic studies indicated the role of PDIFe(I)Ph and PDIFe(0)(N2)2 as offcycle species. Additionally, these complexes were employed for the Suzuki-type coupling of alkyl halides with 1,1-bis(boronates), leading to the conclusion that the processes were instead base catalyzed. Chapter 3: Electronic structure analysis and catalytic applications of carbeno(diamidine) iron complexes. Abstract: Iron(II) pincer complexes carbeno(diamidine) iron dibromide [(CDA)FeBr2] and bis(N-heterocyclic carbene)pyridine iron dibromide [(CNC)FeBr2] were examined by magnetic circular dichroism and density functional theory studies to invesitgate the effect that NHC moieties have on electronic structure and bonding in tridentate pincer ligands. The increased Fe-C bonding and pincer-donating abilities that result from NHC incorporation have a direct impact on spin state and observed ligand fields. Additionally, the position of the NHC moiety on the tridentate ligand and the overall geometry of the molecule were found to effect the net donor ability of the pincers and the strength of the iron-pincer interactions. Three new variations of the CDA ligand were developed and evaluated for catalytic ability in olefin hydrogenation and atom transfer radical polymerization reactions. While iron CDA complexes were found to be mediocre catalysts for both transformations, a cobalt CDA dimer complex was developed that showed promising catalytic activity for olefin hydrogenation. Chapter 4: The direct functionalization of lactide. Abstract: In an effort to provide cyclic diesters that could generate useful and biodegradable polymers, the direct functionalization of lactide was pursued. Lactide undergoes ring opening under a wide range of conditions, and thus traditional methods used for the functionalization of lactones could not be employed here. Typical routes for the formation of cyclic diesters involve multi-step syntheses and low yielding cyclization reactions. Herein, C-H activation and soft enolization have been identified as promising avenues toward the direct functionalization of lactide. Palladium catalyzed C-H activation was not amenable for lactide, however, soft enolization techniques led to low yields of the desired functionalized product. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Thesis advisor: Marc L. Snapper / Tandem processes can have several advantages over multiple single step processes. Non-metathesis transformations of ruthenium alkylidenes were studied and applied to tandem processes. Ruthenium catalyzed tandem RCM/hydroacylation that allows access to tricyclic ring systems from readily available substrates was developed. Mechanistic investigations indicated that this reaction may proceed through a mechanism involving [Ru]-H species. A Ru-catalyzed tandem RCM/olefin isomerization/C-H activation sequence that provides significant advantages in terms of rapid elaboration of simple reaction partners to more complex entities was developed. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Thesis advisor: Amir H. Hoveyda / Chapter One: An overview of Cu-catalyzed enantioselective allylic substitutions with organometallic reagents. Chapter Two: Development of Cu-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylations of allylic chlorides with Grignard reagents for the formation of all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers is disclosed. Chapter Three: Development of Cu-catalyzed enantioselective allylic substitutions of allylic phosphates with alkyl, aryl, and heterocyclic aluminum reagents for the formation of quaternary stereogenic centers is discussed. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Thesis advisor: Amir H. Hoveyda / Chapter 1. In this chapter, the ability of chiral bidentate N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) to activate alkylmetal reagents directly in order to promote C&#8210;C bond forming reactions in the absence of a Cu salt is presented. Highly regio- and enantioselective Cu-free allylic alkylation reactions of di- and trisubstituted allylic substrates with organomagnesium, organozinc, and organoaluminum reagents are demonstrated. Chiral bidentate sulfonate-bearing NHC-Zn and NHC-Al complexes are isolated and fully characterized. Based on crystal structures of these catalytic complexes, mechanistic details regarding Cu-free allylic alkylations with alkylmetal reagents are proposed. Chapter 2. New methods for efficient and highly enantioselective Cu-catalyzed allylic alkylation reactions of a variety of trisubstituted allylic substrates with alkylmagnesium and alkyl-, aryl-, 2-furyl-, and 2-thiophenylaluminum reagents are presented. Transformations are promoted by a chiral NHC complex in the presence of commercially available, inexpensive and air stable CuCl2*H2O. Enantiomerically enriched compounds containing difficult-to-access all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers are obtained. Chapter 3. New methods for highly site- and enantioselective Cu-catalyzed allylic alkylation reactions of allylic phosphates with vinylaluminum reagents are presented. The requisite vinylaluminums are prepared by reaction of readily accessible terminal alkynes with DIBAL-H and used directly without further purification. Vinyl additions are promoted in the presence of a chiral bidentate sulfonate-based NHC complex and a Cu salt. The desired SN2' products are obtained in >98% E selectivities, >98% SN2' selectivities, >98% group selectivities (<2% i-Bu addition) and high enantioselectivities. The enantioselective total synthesis of the natural product bakuchiol highlights the versatility of the one-pot hydroalumination/Cu-catalyzed enantioselective allylic vinylation process. Chapter 4. Efficient and highly site-selective Cu-catalyzed hydroboration reactions of 1,2-disubstituted aryl olefins with bis(pinacolato)diboron (B2(pin)2) are presented. Transformations are promoted by an NHC-Cu complex in the presence of MeOH, affording only secondary &#946;-boronate isomers. A Cu-catalyzed method for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched secondary alkylboronates promoted by chiral NHC complexes is disclosed. Chapter 5. A new method for efficient and site-selective tandem Cu-catalyzed copper-boron additions to terminal alkynes with B2(pin)2 in the presence of an NHC-Cu complex is demonstrated. In a one-pot process, Cu-catalyzed hydroboration of alkynes provides vinylboronates in situ, which undergo a second site-selective hydroboration to afford vicinal diboronates. Highly Enantiomerically enriched diboronates obtained through Cu-catalyzed enantioselective dihydroboration in the presence of chiral bidentate sulfonate-based NHC-Cu complex are obtained. The control of site selectivity in the first-stage hydroboration of alkynes is critical for efficient and highly enantioselective reactions in the tandem dihydroboration. Functionalizations of the vicinal diboronates described herein underline the significance of the current method. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.