The synthesis of high value acrylic monomers is currently done industrially via cyanohydrin hydration using concentrated acids, resulting in large quantities of useless byproducts. This current process is energy intensive and lacks atom economy; therefore, alternative cyanohydrin hydration strategies are under investigation. Ideally, cyanohydrin hydration would be done using organometallic nitrile hydration catalysts. Cyanohydrin hydration with these catalysts is challenging, because it needs to be done at low temperatures and under acidic conditions to reduce cyanohydrin degradation and catalyst poisoning with cyanide. This dissertation describes the reactivity of [Ru(#951; / 10000-01-01

The Johnson-Claisen rearrangement is a valuable method for the formation of new carbon-carbon bonds, however the rearrangement suffers from high reaction temperatures and prolonged reaction times. On the basis of previous research into substituent-induced rate enhancements of the Claisen rearrangement, we aimed to reduce the severity of the Johnson-Claisen conditions by applying this reaction to allylic cyanohydrins. Application of the standard Johnson-Claisen conditions (excess of orthoester and catalytic protic acid) to allylic cyanohydrins resulted in their decomposition to a,b- unsaturated aldehydes. The anticipated d-ethoxycarbonyl-a,b-unsaturated nitriles were formed in trace amounts. Subsequent optimisation of this reaction has allowed a practical entry into a,b- unsaturated nitriles in reasonable yields, however high reaction temperatures were necessary for an efficient conversion. Clearly, a change of approach was desired; we have since discovered that mixed orthoesters derived from allylic alcohols undergo methanol elimination in the presence of triisobutylaluminium (TIBAL) at room temperature to form mixed ketene acetals. TIBAL then promotes immediate Claisen rearrangement of these intermediates, and subsequent reduction of the ester products to yield, g,d- unsaturated primary alcohols in a convenient one-pot procedure, with yields ranging from 52-81% and with a range of functional group tolerance.

The thiourea derivatives have become a main focus of research in asymmetric synthesis as an organocatalyst in recent years. In the first part, the thiourea catalysts are synthesized starting from easily available L-tartaric acid and application of the catalysts to some addition reactions showed no significant asymmetric induction. A number of HDAC inhibitors have been developed as anti-cancer agent at the present time.In the second part, some aryl butenoic acid derivatives are synthesized as HDAC inhibitors starting from substituted benzaldehyde and pyruvic acid. The HDAC activity studies showed comparable results with known molecules. In the last part, some acyl phosphonates are synthesized and addition of ethylcyanoformate to acyl phosphonates furnished the products in good yields.

L’addition nucléophile des réactifs de Grignard sur les nitriles conduit généralement aux cétones après hydrolyse acide. La double addition, menant à des carbinamines tertiaires après traitement, est beaucoup plus difficile et ne s’effectue habituellement qu’avec les organomagnésiens allyliques. Dans ce contexte, nous avons découvert que les organomagnésiens peuvent effectuer une double addition sur la fonction nitrile des acylcyanhydrines, pour fournir des hydroxyamides. Cette réaction est originale par le fait qu’une large gamme d’organomagnésiens peut être utilisée, dans des conditions particulièrement douces. Cette réaction a été appliquée à la synthèse de différents acides α-aminés α,α-disubstitués, par oxydation de la fonction alcool et hydrolyse du motif amide. La divinylglycine a notamment pu être préparée avec un bon rendement. L’addition successive de deux organomagnésiens différents a aussi pu être réalisée, après optimisation des conditions de réaction, pour accéder à des hydroxyamides disymétriques, précurseurs d’acides aminés quaternaires chiraux. Enfin, l’addition des réactifs de Grignard sur les 3-cyano iminocoumarines N-éthoxycarbonylées a été étudiée. Malgré la présence de nombreux sites électrophiles, la réaction est très chimiosélective, et des chromènes originaux substitués en position 4 ont été obtenus. Les propriétés antifongiques et antibactériennes de ces derniers ont été évaluées. / The nucleophilic addition of Grignard reagents on nitriles generally leads to ketones after acidic hydrolysis. The double addition, providing tertiary carbinamines after work-up, is more difficult and usually occurs only with allylic Grignard reagents. In this context, we discovered that Grignard reagents can perform a double addition on the nitrile function of acyl cyanohydrins, to provide hydroxyamides. This reaction is original by the fact that a wide range of Grignard reagents can be used, in particularly mild conditions. This reaction has been applied to the synthesis of different α,α-disubstituted α-aminoacids, by oxidation of the alcohol functionality and hydrolysis of the amide moiety. Especially, divinylglycine has been prepared in good yield. The successive addition of two different Grignard reagents was also carried out, after optimization of reaction conditions, to access unsymmetrical hydroxyamides, which are precursors of chiral quaternary aminoacids. Finally, the addition of the Grignard reagents on N-ethoxycarbonyl 3-cyano-iminocoumarines was studied. Despite the presence of several electrophilic centers, the reaction is highly chemoselective, and novel chromenes displaying substituent on position 4 were obtained. The antifungal and antibacterial properties of these compounds have been evaluated.

A minor enantiomer recycling one-pot process usingω-functionalized prochiral aldehydes as starting materials and two reinforcing catalysts has been reported. The desired aldehyde for these process studies was 5-bromo-1-pentanal. In a two-phase solvent system, enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of the minor enantiomer regenerates continuously the prochiral starting material and Lewis acid catalysed addition of acetyl cyanide provides the O-acetylated cyanohydrins. The minor enantiomer recycling process has been studied and improved for 5-bromo-1-pentanal to receive high enantiomeric excess and yield of the expected O-acetylated cyanohydrin.

Functionalized cyanophosphates are important starting materials for the synthesis of beta-lactam ring moiety of beta-lactam antibiotics. The cyanophosphates are synthesized starting from easily available acylphosphonate and ethylcyanoformate. Acylphosphonates are synthesized starting from acylchloride and trimethylphosphite. Addition of acylphoshonate to ethylcyanoformate furnishes the cyanophosphate with the quaternary center.

Les tétrazoles ont une place importante dans la chimie médicinale contemporaine par leurs caractéristiques spatiales et électroniques uniques. Leur haute teneur en azote leur confère également des qualités requises dans le développement de substances explosives et de haute énergie. Le développement de nouveaux outils synthétiques pour les créer prend donc ici tout son sens. Dans cet ouvrage, il est tout d’abord question d’une nouvelle méthode de synthèse qui génère des tétrazoles bicycliques en conditions douces par l’entremise d’azidonitriles aliphatiques séparés par trois ou quatre atomes de carbone (effet de proximité) et d’acides de Lewis. De plus, cette méthode de synthèse présente une réaction tandem qui génère des tétrazoles oxabicycliques 1,5-dialkylés via une cycloaddition 1,3-dipolaire diastéréosélective à partir d’azidoacétals ou d’azidocétals arborant un azoture proximal. La réaction s’effectue dans le nitrométhane de 0 °C à la température ambiante avec du TMSCN et est promue par une variété d’acides de Lewis dont le BF3OEt2. Les aspects mécanistiques de la réaction (l’ouverture des acétals, l’équilibre entre les éthers de cyanhydrine, la cycloaddition 1,3-dipolaire diastéréosélective et le réarrangement de Boyer-Schmidt-Aubé) ainsi que les paramètres réactionnels (solvants, acides de Lewis, stœchiométrie, sources de cyanure, etc.) seront en outre abordés. Ensuite, le motif de tétrazole oxabicyclique a été l’objet de diversifications, de fonctionnalisations et de transformations afin d’en valoriser l’utilité. Des réactions d’alkylations, d’azoturations radicalaires, de bêta-éliminations et de diversifications de la chaîne latérale ont été étudiées. De ces mêmes motifs de tétrazoles, la synthèse de tétrazoles azabicycliques et celle de morpholines 2,6-polysubstituées ont aussi été investiguées. La synthèse d’un sel de tétrazolium et l’alkylation de 5-tétrazolyllithiums ont aussi fait l’objet d’études préliminaires. Enfin, une étude théorique en DFT a été effectuée pour mieux comprendre l’équilibre tétrazole-azidoazométhine sur des motifs de types benzo- et pyrido- diazidodiazines parents à la 6-azidotétrazolo[5,1-a]phthalazine, un métabolite toxique du Gymnodinium breve (Ptychodiscus brevis, aussi actuellement connu sous le nom de Karenia brevis). Les aspects thermodynamiques, les états de transition, les orbitales HOMO, les cartes de potentiels d’ionisation locaux, les cartes de densité de la LUMO, les effets de solvant et certains paramètres permettant d’évaluer l’aromaticité (indices de Bird, ordres de liaison minimaux de Jug, indices HOMA et NICS) ont été considérés dans l’étude. Le constat a été que certaines des analyses théoriques peuvent constituer de bons outils prédictifs, particulièrement avec des considérations thermodynamiques, mais que cette approche a aussi ses limites qui sont principalement dues aux incertitudes inhérentes aux calculs théoriques. / Tetrazoles have an important place in contemporary medicinal chemistry due to their unique spatial and electronic characteristics. Their high nitrogen content also gives them the qualities required for the development of explosive and high energy substances. The development of new synthetic tools to create them takes here all its meaning. Therefore, in this work, a new synthesis method that generates bicyclic tetrazoles under mild conditions using aliphatic azidonitriles separated by three or four carbon atoms (proximity effect) and Lewis acids will first be discussed. In addition, a tandem reaction which generates 1,5-dialkylated oxabicyclic tetrazoles via a diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition from azidoacetals or azidoketals bearing a proximal azide will also be disclosed. The reaction is carried out in nitromethane at 0 °C to room temperature with TMSCN and is promoted by a variety of Lewis acids including BF3OEt2. The mechanistic aspects of the reaction (acetal opening, equilibrium between cyanohydrin ethers, diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and Boyer-Schmidt-Aubé rearrangement) as well as the reaction parameters (solvents, Lewis acids, stoichiometry, cyanide sources, etc.) will be discussed. Furthermore, the oxabicyclic tetrazole unit was involved in diversifications, functionalizations and transformations to enhance its utility. Reactions of alkylations, radical azidations, beta-eliminations and diversifications of the side chain were applied. From these same tetrazole units, the synthesis of azabicyclic tetrazoles and that of 2,6-polysubstituted morpholines was also investigated. The synthesis of a tetrazolium salt and the alkylation of 5 tetrazolyllithiums were also the subject of preliminary studies. Finally, a theoretical DFT study was carried out to have a better understanding of the tetrazole-azidoazomethine equilibrium on benzo- and pyrido- diazidodiazines similar to 6 azidotetrazolo [5,1-a] phthalazine, a toxic metabolite from Gymnodinium breve (Ptychodiscus brevis, actually known as Karenia brevis). Thermodynamic aspects, transition states, HOMO orbitals, local ionization potential maps, LUMO density maps, solvent effects, and some parameters to evaluate the aromaticity (Bird index, Jug minimum bond order, HOMA index and NICS) were considered in the study. It has been noted that some of the theoretical analysis can be good predictive tools, particularly with thermodynamic considerations, but they also have their limits, which are mainly due to the uncertainties inherent in the theoretical calculations.