En la presente memoria se describe el uso de líquidos eutécticos sostenibles (DESs en inglés) como medios de reacción, empleando diferentes catalizadores metálicos para llevar a cabo la síntesis de compuestos orgánicos de interés en química orgánica. En el Primer Capítulo se detalla el uso de un catalizador heterogéneo de cobre soportado sobre magnetita en el acoplamiento cruzado deshidrogenante de tetrahidroisoquinolinas en mezclas eutécticas. En el Segundo Capítulo se pormenoriza sobre la síntesis de un complejo tipo pinza de paladio y su empleo en la reacción de acoplamiento cruzado de Hiyama, tanto en mezclas eutécticas como en glicerol, como medios sostenibles de reacción. Asimismo, y con el fin de mejorar la compatibilidad de los catalizadores de paladio en estos líquidos eutécticos, se detalla el diseño y la síntesis de fosfinas catiónicas, las cuales han probado su efectividad como ligandos de paladio en reacciones típicas de acoplamiento cruzado (Suzuki, Heck y Sonogashira) en diferentes mezclas eutécticas. Finalmente, en el Tercer Capítulo se describen reacciones multicomponente de acoplamiento cruzado para la formación de enlaces C-S. Por un lado, se ha desarrollado una metodología para la inserción de SO2 catalizada por paladio a partir de ácidos borónicos y metabisulfito de sodio. Por otro lado, una variante de la metodología anterior permitió la síntesis de sulfonamidas sustituyendo los ácidos borónicos por compuestos de triarilbismuto y nitrocompuestos bajo catálsis de cobre. En este último caso, una nueva mezcla eutéctica ha sido descrita y caracterizada, tanto físco-química como biológicamente.

The control of interfacial microstructural stability is of utmost importance to the reliability of liquid solder interconnects in high temperature electronic assemblies. This is primarily due to excessive intermetallic compounds (IMCs) that can form and continuously grow during high temperature operation, which practically renders conventional barrier metallisations inadequate. In this study, electrically conducting, NbOx containing Ni coatings were developed using electrodeposition. Their suitability as a solder diffusion barrier layer was assessed in terms of the electrical conductivity and barrier property. The present work explores a novel electrochemical route to produce Ni-NbOx composite coatings of good uniformity, compactness and purity, from non-aqueous glycol-based electrolytes consisting of NiCl2 and NbCl5 as metal precursors. The effects of cathodic current density and NaBH4 concentrations on the surface morphology, composition and thickness of the coatings were examined. A combined study of Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) and Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (EQCM) was conducted to understand the fundamental aspects of this novel electrodeposition process. The composite coatings generally exhibited good electrical conductivity. The reaction behaviour between a liquid 52In-48Sn solder and Ni-NbOx, with Nb contents up to 6 at.%, were studied at 200°C. The results indicate that, Ni-NbOx with sufficient layer thickness and higher Nb content, offered longer service lifetime. Nb enrichment was generally observed at or close to the reaction front after high temperature storage, which suggests evident effectiveness of the enhanced diffusion barrier characteristics.

Tin electrodeposits produced from aqueous electrolytes are frequently used within the electronics industry due to their high solderability and corrosion protection. One limitation to using these deposits is their spontaneous formation of long conductive filament whiskers. These whiskers grow post-electrodeposition and increase the risk of unwanted electrical shorts within electronic devices. In this thesis, tin electrodeposits produced from a proprietary bright acid Tinmac electrolyte, currently used in industry, were studied. Electrodeposits were produced using a range of current densities with and without agitation and were characterised with respect to crystallographic orientation, topography and surface finish. Moreover, the intermetallic compound (IMC) growth produced at the copper substrate-tin coating interface was assessed over a period of time as its growth is considered to be a significant driving force behind whisker formation. In addition, a technique for the electrochemical anodic oxidation of tin electrodeposits on copper substrates was developed. This technique was used throughout this project for the study of IMC growth from tin electrodeposits as it was able to effectively remove the tin whilst leaving the IMCs and substrate unaffected. Ionic liquids exhibit promising electrochemical characteristics for electrodeposition but are still not widely utilised in industry. Their ability to deposit tin coatings has been studied in the present investigation. Trials concentrated on process optimisation to produce uniform electrodeposits by varying current density, SnCl2.2H2O concentration, and electrolyte composition. These deposits were then characterised and compared to tin coatings of similar thickness produced from Tinmac with respect to topography, surface finish, crystallographic orientation, IMC growth, and whisker propensity. Electrodeposits produced from the ionic liquid electrolyte exhibited a different crystallographic texture, topography, and IMC growth compared to those produced from Tinmac. Moreover, the deposit produced from the ionic liquid featured increased whisker growth compared to those produced from Tinmac, but in a wider context, far less growth than conventional tin electrodeposits in the literature. In addition, by exploiting other electrochemical characteristics of ionic liquids, such as their large potential window, future work may be able to produce novel tin or tin alloy electrodeposits which may further reduce the whisker propensity of deposits produced in this investigation.

No description available.

The kinetic mechanism of an α/β hydrolase fold epoxide hydrolase from potato, StEH1, has been studied with the aims of explaining the underlying causes for enantio- and regioselectivity, both being important for product purity. Further effort has been laid upon understanding the causes of a hysteretic behavior discovered in the measurements leading to Paper I. The enantioselectivity was investigated with substrates differing only in substituent size at one carbon of the oxirane ring structure. In catalysis with trans-stilbene oxide and styrene oxide, enantioselectivity is the result of differences in alkylation rates. In pre-steady state measurement with trans-2-methylstyrene oxide (2-MeSO), a rate-limiting step involving slow transitions, referred to as hysteresis, was discovered. With this substrate enantioselectivity is proposed to be a consequence of the catalytic rate of (1R,2R)-enantiomer being more influenced by the hysteretic behavior than was the rate of the other enantiomer. In steady-state measurements with (1R,2R)-2-MeSO, at different temperatures and pH, hysteretic cooperativity was displayed. It can be concluded that this behavior is dependent on the relationship between kcat and the rate of transition between two Michaelis complexes. From the differences in pH dependence of kcat/KM in formation of the two diols resulting from low regioselectivity in catalysis of (1R,2R)-2-MeSO, it is suggested that hysteresis is a result of the substrates placed in different conformational modes within the active site cavity. Regioselectivity is proposed to be the result of specific interactions between the catalytically important Tyr and the substrate, with a link between KM-values and degree of regioselectivity. Furthermore, the hysteretic kinetic model proposed can explain hysteresis, cooperativity and regioselectivity resulting from StEH1 catalyzed hydrolysis of (1R,2R)-2-MeSO.

The thesis has been divided in two chapters: Chapter I describes the preparation of primary-amine monocarbamates from enantiopure trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamines and their use as chiral organocatalysts in the enantioselective Michael addition reaction of aldehydes and ketones to maleimides, to synthesize enantiomerically enriched substituted succinimides. In the conjugate addition reaction of aldehydes to maleimides in conventional volatile organic solvents, it has been found that these organocatalysts are able to generate both enantiomers of the corresponding succinimide using only one enantiomeric form of the catalyst, just by changing the polarity of the solvent. Theoretical calculations justify the mechanism through which this inversion of enantioinduction occurred. In addition, these organocatalysts were used in the enantioselective Michael addition reaction of aldehydes to maleimides, using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) as recyclable and environmentally sustainable reaction medium, yielding the corresponding succinimides with excellent yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 94%). The succinimides can be extracted from the DES, which retains the chiral organocatalyst, allowing to reuse both solvent and catalyst. Moreover, the conjugate addition of ketones to maleimides using conventional solvents, allows obtaining the corresponding succinimides with excellent yields but with moderate enantioselectivities (up to 66%). Chapter II shows the results obtained in the enantioselective Michael addition reaction of aldehydes and ketones to nitroalkenes, using the former trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine-derived aminocarbamates as chiral organocatalysts, obtaining enantioenriched γ-nitrocarbonyl compounds. In the conjugate addition of isobutyraldehyde to nitroalkenes, the corresponding γ-nitroaldehydes were obtained with enantioselectivities up to 84%. In addition, the enantioselective conjugate addition reaction of ketones to nitroalkenes allowed to obtain interesting γ-nitroketones with high enantioselectivities (up to 96%). Theoretical calculations justify the mechanism involved during this enantioselective process.

Capítulo 1. Adiciones Michael asimétricas organocatalizadas en líquidos eutécticos. Siguiendo los principios de la “Química Verde” se desarrolló un sistema catalítico basado en disolventes eutécticos y organocatalizadores quirales derivados de 2-amino benzimidazol. Este nuevo sistema fue empleado para catalizar la adición enantioselectiva de compuestos de 1,3-dicarbonílicos a β-nitroestirenos. El procedimiento evita el uso de disolventes orgánicos volátiles tóxicos como medio reacción, proporcionando acceso a moléculas quirales altamente funcionalizadas de forma selectiva y eficiente. Además, la reacción puede realizarse a una escala de gramos y a su vez este sistema catalítico es fácilmente reciclable y reutilizable durante cuatro ciclos, lo que da lugar a un procedimiento limpio, económico, sencillo y escalable que cumple la mayoría de los criterios necesarios para ser un proceso medioambientalmente benigno y sostenible. Los estudios de RMN realizados a la mezcla organocatalizador-líquido eutéctico han confirmado el papel clave de los enlaces de hidrógeno entre el disolvente y el organocatalizador quiral, que permiten su recuperación y la reciclabilidad del sistema. Capítulo 2. α-Aminación electrofílica asimétrica organocatalizada en líquidos eutécticos. Empleando el sistema catalítico basado en el uso de catalizadores quirales de 2-benzoimidazol y líquidos eutécticos se realizó la α-aminación enantioselectiva de compuestos de 1,3-dicarbonílicos. Con este procedimiento, se evita el uso de compuestos orgánicos volátiles tóxicos como medios de reacción. Las moléculas quirales altamente funcionalizadas sintetizadas, que son importantes en la síntesis de productos naturales, se sintetizaron mediante un protocolo eficiente y estereoselectivo. Además, la reacción puede llevarse a cabo para la síntesis de un gramo de producto, siendo posible el reciclaje del sistema catalítico durante al menos cinco ciclos de reacción consecutivos. Este procedimiento representa un método barato, simple, limpio y escalable que cumple con la mayoría de los principios para ser considerado un proceso medioambientalmente benigno y sostenible. Capítulo 3. Líquidos eutécticos quirales. Diferentes mezclas eutécticas basadas en prolina fueron empleadas en la adición Michael asimétrica de cetonas sobre nitroalquenos. En vista de los resultados, y los estudios de 1H-RMN realizados, se confirmó una relación entre la conversión y selectividad del proceso con la constante asociación de los componentes de la mezcla eutéctica. Con estos datos un nuevo disolvente eutéctico quiral a base de bromuro de (S)-N,N,N,-trimetil-1-(pirrolidin-2-il)-metanamina y glicerol fue diseñado y sintetizado con éxito. Este sistema catalítico se mostró eficiente en la adición Michael de ciclohexanona a β-nitroestirenos, obteniendo selectividades moderadas en condiciones suaves. El sistema catalítico eutéctico fue recuperado fácilmente y reciclado hasta cinco veces en la adición de ciclohexanona a β-nitroestireno sin pérdida significativa de actividad catalítica.

No / Mechanochemical synthesis has been applied to the rapid synthesis of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs), including Reline 200 (choline chloride : urea, 1 : 2), in a continuous flow methodology by Twin Screw Extrusion (TSE). This gave products in higher purity and with Space Time Yields (STYs), four orders of magnitude greater than for batch methods

This doctoral thesis focuses on applying different organocatalysts in several enantioselective reactions and aerobic photooxidations using visible light. Chapter 1 describes using a chiral primary amine-salicylamide derived from (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine as chiral organocatalyst in the asymmetric conjugate Michael addition of aldehydes and ketones to maleimides, giving the corresponding enantioenriched succinimides. The same organocatalyst is used in the enantioselective Michael addition of aldehydes to nitroalkenes, yielding enantiopure γ-nitroaldehydes. Furthermore, these Michael additions of aldehydes to maleimides and nitroalkenes are carried out employing sustainable and environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvents (DES), being able to reuse the catalytic system for several cycles. Chapter 2 describes using a chiral primary-amine monocarbamate derived from (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine as chiral organocatalyst in the enantioselective α-amination of aldehydes with azodicarboxylates, obtaining the corresponding α,α-disubstituted aldehydes with the absence of solvent under mild conditions. This simple orgacatalytic system’s applicability is demonstrated by preparing a chiral oxazolidinone precursor of amino acids. The reaction is also successfully scaled-up. In addition, theoretical calculations were performed to demonstrate how the absolute configuration of the final adducts is produced. Chapter 3 shows how riboflavin tetraacetate, a cheap vitamin B2 derivative, is an appropriate metal-free photocatalyst in the aerobic photooxidation of xanthenes, thioxanthenes and dihydroacridines under visible light irradiation. / This research work has been possible thanks to funding from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (PGC2018-096616-B-100, CTQ201788171-P), the Generalitat Valenciana (AICO 2021/013) and the University of Alicante (VIGROB-173). The author wishes to express his gratitude to the Institute of Organic Synthesis for a research contract (I-PI/21-20) and to the University of Alicante-Banco Santander consortium for a grant to spend a three-months research period in the Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project research center (ChIP) of the University of Camerino (Italy) under the supervision of Dr. Matteo Tiecco.

Recently, the production of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) has grown rapidly, highlighting the need for efficient and environmentally friendly recycling of LIB waste. In this work, the usage of so-called deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for the leaching of the LIB cathode material lithium cobaltoxide is investigated. The initial DESs investigated are mixtures of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG200) and an organic acid: tartaric, ascorbic, citric, oxalic or succinic acid (PEG:TA (4:1), PEG:AA (8:1), PEG:CA (4:1), PEG:OA (2:1) and PEG:SA (6:1), the molar ratio in parenthesis). Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the solvents are stable up to 180-190 °C. DESs were analyzed with FTIR spectroscopy, pH was measured using a pH-meter and viscosity using a rolling-ball viscometer. The highest leaching efficiency was obtained using PEG:AA followed by PEG:OA, both having the ability to reduce Co(III). This ability was dominant over pH and viscosity influence. For the other three solvents, leaching efficiency increases in the order of decreasing pH (PEG:TA>PEG:CA>PEG:SA). More investigations of leaching as a function of time are needed to determine the impact of viscosity. PEG:CA and PEG:AA are used to study the impact of solid-to-liquid ratio. For PEG:AA the optimal S/L-ratio is 20 mg/g. For PEG:CA the optimal S/L-ratio is different for Li and Co. Three additional CA based DESs are made using ethylene glycol (EG) and choline chloride (ChCl): EG:CA, ChCl:EG:CA and ChCl:PEG:CA. Adding ChCl to EG:CA and PEG:CA increases the leaching efficiency from ca 5 and 10 to ca 30% and the color changes from pink to blue, indicating the formation of tetrachlorocobalt complexes. This reaction may produce chlorine gas, although none was detected using potassium iodide starch paper. Study of leaching as afunction of time of ChCl:EG:CA shows the reaction slows down significantly after 24 h, indicating that the reaction has reached or is near equilibrium at this point. Antisolvent crystallization of this solvent using ethanol was not succesful.