This work presents synthesis of seven dihydro-pyran-2,4-diones and investigation of some of its biological activities (moluscicidal, antiulcer, antioxidant and anticholinesterasic). These compounds were prepared - in yields that had varied of moderate to good (50 - 85%) - through the aldol condensation of β-ketoester’s diânion with an aldehyde or a ketone, basic hydrolysis, followed of lactonization in acid medium. In the first investigation about its biological activities, dihydro-pyran-2,4-diones had been inactive on Biomphalaria glabrata adult, presenting active only on its egg masses. Studies about antiulcer activity were not satisfactory therefore results obtained for dihydro-pyran-2,4-diones were not significantly different of those observed in the control group. For determination of the antioxidant activity, the spectrophotometric assay with stable radical DPPH was chosen. The results obtained for dihydro-pyran-2,4-diones, in this assay, were similar to the observed ones for the positive control used, BHT, and show that these compounds constitute in a promising synthetic antioxidants. Results obtained still point with respect to a possible correlation between enol concentration in the equilibrium, and the capacity of reduction of free radical DPPH. It was verified that electron withdrawing groups increase the activity, whereas introduction of electron donators groups cause a reduction of the activity. When assays were extended for other acyclic 1,3-dicarbonilic compounds, was verified that these don’t present antioxidant activity on free radical DPPH. This fact indicates that conformation also can be decisive for manifestation of the studied activity. The inquiry of the anticholinesterasic activity not yet presented results conclusive, but the preliminary assays showed resulted sufficiently promising, with percentage of inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase between 50% - 60%. / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Este trabalho apresenta a síntese de sete diidro-piran-2,4-dionas e a investigação de algumas de suas atividades biológicas (moluscicida, antiúlcera, antioxidante e anticolinesterásica). Estes compostos foram obtidos, em rendimentos que variaram de moderados a bons (50 – 85%), através da condensação aldólica do diânion de um β-cetoéster com um aldeído ou uma cetona, seguido de hidrólise básica do éster e lactonização em meio ácido. Na primeira investigação sobre suas atividades biológicas, as diidro-piran-2,4-dionas foram inativas frente ao caramujo adulto da espécie Biomphalaria glabrata, apresentando-se ativo apenas frente à sua desova. Os estudos sobre atividade antiúlcera não foram satisfatórios pois os resultados obtidos para as diidro-piran-2,4-dionas não foram significativamente diferentes daqueles observados no grupo controle. Para a determinação da atividade antioxidante escolheu-se o ensaio espectrofotométrico com o radical estável DPPH. Os resultados obtidos para as diidro-piran-2,4-dionas, neste ensaio, foram similares aos observados para o controle positivo utilizado, BHT, e mostram que estas se constituem numa promissora classe de antioxidantes sintéticos. Os resultados obtidos apontam ainda para uma possível correlação entre a concentração da forma enólica no equilíbrio, o pKa da hidroxila deste enol e a capacidade de redução do radical livre DPPH. Verificou-se que grupos retiradores de elétrons ligados ao anel aumentam a atividade, enquanto que a introdução de grupos doadores de elétrons causa uma redução da atividade. Ao estender os ensaios para outros compostos 1,3-dicarbonílicos acíclicos, verificou-se que estes não apresentam atividade antioxidante frente ao radical livre DPPH. Este fato indica que a conformação também pode ser decisiva para a manifestação da atividade estudada. A investigação da atividade anticolinesterásica ainda não apresentou dados conclusivos, mas os ensaios preliminares mostraram resultados bastante promissores, com porcentagem de inibição da enzima acetilcolinesterase entre 50% - 60%.

4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazoles are postulated to be key intermediates in the synthesis of ketones from alkenes on an industrial scale, alkylation of DNA in vivo, decomposition of N-nitrosoureas (potent carcinogens), and are also a subject of great interest for theoretical chemists. In this thesis, formation of the parent compound and decay into secondary products has been studied by NMR monitoring analysis. The elusive properties and the intermediacy of the parent compound, 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole, in the decomposition of suitably substituted N-nitrosoureas using Tl(I) alkoxides as bases, have been confirmed by the characterisation of its decay products viz., ethylene oxide, acetaldehyde, and especially diazomethane, at very low temperatures by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 15N NMR, and relevant 2D NMR methods. Moreover, it has been shown that the methylation of nucleophilic molecules by 3-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazolium salts, which are considered to be activated forms of β−hydroxyalkylnitrosamines, does not involve 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole as an intermediate, as has been reported in literature; instead, nucleophilic substitution leading to synthesis of open-chain products dominates the reaction. / 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole wurden als Schlüsselintermediate in der industriellen Synthese von Ketonen aus Alkenen, der in vivo Alkylierung von DNA und der Zersetzung von N-Nitrosoharnstoffen (potente Karzinogene) postuliert. Sie sind ebenso von großem Interesse in der theoretischen Chemie. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde die Bildung der Stammverbindung und deren Zersetzung in sekundäre Produkte mittels NMR-Verfolgung studiert. Die ausgesprochene Kurzlebigkeit der Stammverbindung 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazol wurde durch die Charakterisierung der Produkte bei der Zersetzung geeignet substituierter N-Nitrosoharnstoffe mit Tl(I)-Alkoxiden bestätigt. Die Zersetzungsprodukte Ethylenoxid, Acetaldehyd und besonders Diazomethan wurden bei sehr niedrigen Temperaturen mittels 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 15N-NMR und relevanten 2D-NMR-Methoden charakterisiert. Des Weiteren konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Methylierung nucleophiler Spezies mit 3-Methyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazoliumsalzen, welchen als aktivierte Äquivalente der β−Hydroxyalkylnitrosamine verstanden werden, nicht zur Bildung von 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazol als Intermediat führt, so wie dies in der Literatur berichtet wurde. Stattdessen wird die Bildung offenkettiger Produkte durch nukleophile Substitution bevorzugt.

4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazoles are postulated to be key intermediates in the synthesis of ketones from alkenes on an industrial scale, alkylation of DNA in vivo, decomposition of N-nitrosoureas (potent carcinogens), and are also a subject of great interest for theoretical chemists. In this thesis, formation of the parent compound and decay into secondary products has been studied by NMR monitoring analysis. The elusive properties and the intermediacy of the parent compound, 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole, in the decomposition of suitably substituted N-nitrosoureas using Tl(I) alkoxides as bases, have been confirmed by the characterisation of its decay products viz., ethylene oxide, acetaldehyde, and especially diazomethane, at very low temperatures by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 15N NMR, and relevant 2D NMR methods. Moreover, it has been shown that the methylation of nucleophilic molecules by 3-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazolium salts, which are considered to be activated forms of β−hydroxyalkylnitrosamines, does not involve 4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole as an intermediate, as has been reported in literature; instead, nucleophilic substitution leading to synthesis of open-chain products dominates the reaction. / 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazole wurden als Schlüsselintermediate in der industriellen Synthese von Ketonen aus Alkenen, der in vivo Alkylierung von DNA und der Zersetzung von N-Nitrosoharnstoffen (potente Karzinogene) postuliert. Sie sind ebenso von großem Interesse in der theoretischen Chemie. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde die Bildung der Stammverbindung und deren Zersetzung in sekundäre Produkte mittels NMR-Verfolgung studiert. Die ausgesprochene Kurzlebigkeit der Stammverbindung 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazol wurde durch die Charakterisierung der Produkte bei der Zersetzung geeignet substituierter N-Nitrosoharnstoffe mit Tl(I)-Alkoxiden bestätigt. Die Zersetzungsprodukte Ethylenoxid, Acetaldehyd und besonders Diazomethan wurden bei sehr niedrigen Temperaturen mittels 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 15N-NMR und relevanten 2D-NMR-Methoden charakterisiert. Des Weiteren konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Methylierung nucleophiler Spezies mit 3-Methyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazoliumsalzen, welchen als aktivierte Äquivalente der β−Hydroxyalkylnitrosamine verstanden werden, nicht zur Bildung von 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,3-oxadiazol als Intermediat führt, so wie dies in der Literatur berichtet wurde. Stattdessen wird die Bildung offenkettiger Produkte durch nukleophile Substitution bevorzugt.

3-Chloro-4,4,5-trimethyl-3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrazole (3b) and 3-bromo-4,4,5-trimethyl-3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrazole (3c) were prepared for the thermolysis project. The thermal decompositions of 3b and 3c were monitored using 1H NMR spectroscopy. Plots of ln (% starting material) vs. time (sec) were linear for at least two half lives and the first order rate constants were determined over at least a 30o temperature range. The relative reactivity was found to be 3c > 3b. The activation parameters determined for the thermal decomposition of the pyrazoline at 150oC were found to be: for 3b &#;H‡ = 33 &#;1.0 kcal/mol, &#;S‡ = -2.4 &#; 0.07eu , k150 0 = 7.34 &#; 0.44 x 10 -5 s-1 ; for 3c &#;H‡ = 30&#;0.2 kcal/mol, &#;S‡ = -6.9 &#;0.03 eu, k150o = 42.3&#;0.7 x 10-5 s-1. Thermal decomposition of 3b both neat and in dibromobenzene (DBB) resulted in the formation of an intermediate 2,3-diphenyl-4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene (8) as a major product and minor isomers of 8. These intermediates then thermally decomposed to 1,1,3-trimethyl-2-phenyl-1H-indene (9) via an acid catalyzed process. In order to gain a mechanistic understanding (ionic vs. radical pathways) of the thermal decomposition of 3b, a product study was conducted in protic solvents. In methanol and ethanol, 3b underwent an ionic reaction (SN1-type) with the solvent to produce 3-methoxy/ethoxy-4,4,5-trimethyl-3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrazole (3/3d) in good yield. The reaction of 3b with refluxing protic solvents led to the development of new method for the synthesis of alkoxy-4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrazoles which is both safe and efficient.

Explosive materials have always been attracting the attention of scientists. Various explosives either in pure bulk form or as admixtures are synthesized and investigated from different points of view. However, because of dangerous character of these materials, their syntheses and properties have to be forecasted by theoretical studies. The new research trends of explosive materials generally include the designs of novel derivatives of well&ndash / known explosives to improve their detonation performances (heats of explosion, detonation velocities and detonation pressures) and thermal stabilities and decrease their sensitivities towards friction, electric spark, shock and impact either experimentally or theoretically. NTO (5&ndash / nitro&ndash / 2,4&ndash / dihydro&ndash / 3H&ndash / 1,2,4&ndash / triazol&ndash / 3&ndash / one) and PATO (3&ndash / picrylamino&ndash / 1,2,4&ndash / triazole) are very important secondary explosives that take place in the literature for many years in terms of their explosive properties. In this thesis study, new species of these explosives have been designed to enhance their detonation performances (ballistic properties) and to lower their sensitivities and reactivities computationally. Additionally, aromatic nitration reactions and their mechanisms for unprotonated and protonated PATO species have been analyzed. The ab initio quantum chemistry methods, Hartree&ndash / Fock (HF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT), have been used in the calculations with Pople basis sets. Novel NTO and PATO tautomeric species have been designed and investigated to enlighten the effects of tautomerism on their quantum chemical properties and detonation performances in the gas phase. Various aromatic nitration mechanisms (carbon and nitrogen mono&ndash / nitration mechanisms) of unprotonated tautomeric PATO species as well as PATO have been designed in gas phase and the reaction states (pre&ndash / transition states, transition states, intermediates and nitration products) have been detected belonging to these mechanisms. Nitrations in solution phase have also been analyzed. The reaction states have been detected for carbon and nitrogen mono&ndash / nitrations of protonated PATO species in the gas phase. The detonation performances of unnitrated and nitrated PATO products have been presented.