L’atome de fluor est omniprésent dans plusieurs domaines grâce à sa capacité à moduler les propriétés biologiques et physicochimiques d’une molécule. De ce fait, la demande en molécules originales ne cesse de croître. Dans ce contexte, la synthèse de nouveaux réactifs fluorés et le développement de nouvelles méthodologies de synthèse pour introduire ces motifs fluorés suscite un fort intérêt. La première partie de cette thèse a été consacrée à l’élaboration d’un réactif inédit, source de CHFMe, et l’étude de sa réactivité. Cela a permis d’accéder à des composés substitués par un groupement OCHFMe, une classe de dérivés sous-explorée et pourtant prometteuse en chimie médicinale (Chapitre 2). Le chapitre 3 a été dédié au groupement CF₂PO(OEt)₂, un motif d’intérêt grâce à son bioisostérisme avec le groupement phosphate. L’étude d’une voie d’accès directe aux molécules aliphatiques comportant le groupement CF₂PO(OEt)₂ a été étudiée. Enfin, en collaboration avec l’UCL, l’étude de nouveaux groupements fluorés radiomarqués a été réalisée. En effet, le chapitre 4 a porté sur le développement d’une méthodologie permettant de synthétiser des molécules comportant un motif SCF₂¹⁸F, combinant ainsi les propriétés du motif émergent SCF₃ à celles du fluor 18. / The fluorine atom is ubiquitous in several fields thanks to its unique feature to modulate the biological and physical properties of a molecule. Thus, the demand for original fluorinated molecules is steadily increasing. In this context, a special attention has been paid to the synthesis of new fluorinated reagents as well as the development of new methodologies to introduce fluorinated motifs. The first part of this PhD thesis focused on the design of an unprecedented CHFMe-containing reagent and the study of its reactivity. A new access to OCHFMe-containing molecules was possible, an underexplored class of compounds despite their potential in medicinal chemistry (Chapter 2). The chapter 3 was dedicated to the CF₂PO(OEt)₂ moiety, which is of high importance due to its bioisosterism with the phosphonate group. A direct pathway toward the synthesis of aliphatic CF₂PO(OEt)₂-containing molecules was investigated. Finally, in collaboration with the Université Catholique de Louvain, the design of new radiolabeled fluorinated groups was studied. Indeed, the chapter 4 was devoted to the development of a methodology to access SCF₂¹⁸F-containing molecules, combining hence the properties of the emerging moiety SCF₃ with the ones of the ¹⁸F atom.

No description available.

No description available.

This dissertation describes the implementation of the molecular electronic structure calculations with an implicit solvent model using coupled-cluster theory. The theory for and the implementation of the solvent reaction field method (SCRF) and the reference interaction site model (RISM) at the coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) are presented. In the SCRF model a solute molecule is placed in a spherical cavity, and the outer solvent is represented by a dielectric continuum, which is characterized by the dielectric constant of the solvent. The reaction field is introduced to the system by using the multipole moment expansion of the electronic structure of the solute molecule and the dielectric constant. The SCRF method has been used to calculate the conformational equilibrium and the rotational barriers of 1,2-dichloroethane in vacuum and in different solvents. The calculated results are compared with experimental values. In addition, the solvent effects on the energetics of the mechanism of nitration of benzene are reported using the implemented CCSD-SCRF model. The idea of RISM is to replace the reaction field in continuum models by a microscopic expression in terms of the site-site radial distribution functions between solute and solvent, which can be calculated from the RISM integral equations. The statistical solvent distribution around the solute is determined based on the electronic structure of the solute, while the electronic structure of solute is influenced by the surrounding solvent distribution. Therefore, the wave function and the RISM equations are solved self-consistently with CCSD. Pair correlation functions, partial atomic charges, and solvation free energies of water and N-methylacetamide are calculated in liquid water using proposed theory. Both the CC-SCRF and CC-RISM methods have been implemented in a developmental version of the Q-Chem 3.2 quantum chemistry package.

Zur Bestimmung der toxizitätsrelevanten Thiolreaktivität wurde ein Chemoassay mit dem Modellnukleophil 4-Nitrothiophenol (NBT) entwickelt. Es wurden die Reaktionsgeschwindigkeitskonstanten kNBT für insgesamt 145 Verbindungen aus verschiedenen Stoffklassen bestimmt. Ein Modell zur Berücksichtigung der Flüchtigkeit der Elektrophile bei der Berechnung von kNBT wurde entwickelt. Außerdem wurde der Einfluss des pH-Werts auf die Thiolreaktivität unter reaktionsmechanistischen Gesichtspunkten diskutiert. Die NBT-Reaktivität wurde mit der Reaktivität gegenüber anderen toxizitätsrelevanten Nukleophilen verglichen. Zur Einordnung der Thiolreaktivität in den toxikologischen Zusammenhang wurden die Korrelationen zwischen kNBT und ausgewählten toxikologischen Endpunkten betrachtet. Am Beispiel der aquatischen Toxizität im Bioassay mit Tetrahymena pyriformis konnten stoffklassenspezifische Modelle zur Beschreibung der absoluten Toxizität log EC50 und der Toxizitätserhöhung log Te mit guter bis sehr guter Vorhersagekraft abgeleitet werden.

L’importance des produits naturels dans le développement de nouveaux médicaments est indéniable. Malheureusement, l’isolation et la purification de ces produits de leurs sources naturelles procure normalement de très faibles quantités de molécules biologiquement actives. Ce problème a grandement limité l’accès à des études biologiques approfondies et/ou à une distribution sur une grande échelle du composé actif. Par exemple, la famille des pipéridines contient plusieurs composés bioactifs isolés de sources naturelles en très faible quantité (de l’ordre du milligramme). Pour pallier à ce problème, nous avons développé trois nouvelles approches synthétiques divergentes vers des pipéridines polysubstituées contenant une séquence d’activation/désaromatisation d’un sel de pyridinium chiral et énantioenrichi. La première approche vise la synthèse de pipéridines 2,5-disubstituées par l’utilisation d’une réaction d’arylation intermoléculaire sur des 1,2,3,4-tétrahydropyridines 2-substituées. Nous avons ensuite développé une méthode de synthèse d’indolizidines et de quinolizidines par l’utilisation d’amides secondaires. Cette deuxième approche permet ainsi la synthèse formelle d’alcaloïdes non-naturels à la suite d’une addition/cyclisation diastéréosélective et régiosélective sur un intermédiaire pyridinium commun. Finalement, nous avons développé une nouvelle approche pour la synthèse de pipéridines 2,6-disubstituées par l’utilisation d’une réaction de lithiation dirigée suivie d’un couplage croisé de Negishi ou d’un parachèvement avec un réactif électrophile. Le développement de transformations chimiosélectives et versatiles est un enjeu crucial et actuel pour les chimistes organiciens. Nous avons émis l’hypothèse qu’il serait possible d’appliquer le concept de chimiosélectivité à la fonctionnalisation d’amides, un des groupements le plus souvent rencontrés dans la structure des molécules naturelles. Dans le cadre précis de cette thèse, des transformations chimiosélectives ont été réalisées sur des amides secondaires fonctionnalisés. La méthode repose sur l’activation de la fonction carbonyle par l’anhydride triflique en présence d’une base faible. Dans un premier temps, l’amide ainsi activé a été réduit sélectivement en fonction imine, aldéhyde ou amine en présence d’hydrures peu nucléophiles. Alternativement, un nucléophile carboné a été employé afin de permettre la synthèse de cétones ou des cétimines. D’autre part, en combinant un amide et un dérivé de pyridine, une réaction de cyclisation/déshydratation permet d’obtenir les d’imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines polysubstituées. De plus, nous avons brièvement appliqué ces conditions d’activation au réarrangement interrompu de type Beckmann sur des cétoximes. Une nouvelle voie synthétique pour la synthèse d’iodures d’alcyne a finalement été développée en utilisant une réaction d’homologation/élimination en un seul pot à partir de bromures benzyliques et allyliques commercialement disponibles. La présente méthode se distincte des autres méthodes disponibles dans la littérature par la simplicité des procédures réactionnelles qui ont été optimisées afin d’être applicable sur grande échelle. / The importance of natural products in the development of new drugs is undeniable. Unfortunately, the isolation and purification of those products from their natural sources provides normally very small amounts of the desired bioactive molecules. Consequently there is largely limited access to in-depth biological studies and/or to the large scale distribution of the bioactive compound. For example, the piperidine family contains a large diversity of bioactive compounds isolated from natural sources in very limited quantities (on the order of milligram scale). To address the issue, we have developed three new divergent synthetic approaches towards polysubstituted piperidines containing an activation/dearomatization sequence from a chiral and enantioenchired pyridinium salt. The first approach aims towards the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted piperidines by the use of an intermolecular arylation reaction on 2-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines. Then, we have developed a synthetic method for indolizidines and quinolizidines starting from secondary amides. The second approach leads to the formal synthesis of non-natural alkaloids via a highly diastereoselective and regioselective addition/cyclization from a common pyridinium intermediate. Finally, we have found a new approach for the synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted piperidines by the use of a directed lithiation sequence followed by either a Negishi cross-coupling reaction or a quench with an electrophilic reagent. The development of highly chemoselective and versatile transformations are crucial to organic chemists. We have issued the hypothesis that it could be possible to apply the chemoselectivity concept towards the functionalization of amides, one of the most encountered subunits in the structures of natural products. In the specific context of the thesis, the highly chemoselective transformations are realized on functionalized secondary amides. The method relies on the activation of the carbonyl function of the amide by triflic anhydride in presence of a weak base. Firstly, the activated amide can be selectively reduced to imine, aldehyde, or amine oxidation state in the presence of a poorly nucleophilic hydride source. Alternatively, a carbon nucleophile could also be employed in order to allow the synthesis of ketones or ketimines. By combining an amide with a pyridine derivative a cyclization/dehydration reaction was used for the synthesis of polysubstituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines. Moreover, we have briefly applied the activation conditions to the interrupted Beckmann rearrangement of ketoximes. We have finally developed a new synthetic pathway for iodoalkynes by using a one-pot homologation/elimination reaction from commercially available benzylic and allylic bromides. The present method is distinctively different from literature precedents by the simplicity of the reaction procedures and purifications which were optimized in order to be applied to large scale synthesis

Na primeira parte da tese foram abordadas diversas rotas sintéticas para a preparação dos fragmentos nordeste e sudoeste do alcaloide bisindólico Raputindol D, cuja síntese total nunca foi descrita. A proposta inicial era obter o fragmento nordeste em 13 etapas a partir do composto comercial 3-metil-4-nitrofenol, utilizando como etapas-chave uma reação de Diels-Alder, uma abertura redutiva de anel e uma contração de anel com iodo(III). Empregando uma reação de Diels-Alder regiosseletiva de um intermediário silil substituído, a construção de uma unidade tricíclica linear foi alcançada com a obtenção de um único regioisômero. Entretanto, todas as tentativas de abertura de anel do alqueno oxabicíclico resultaram apenas no regioisômero não desejado, apesar dos estudos prévios com compostos modelo terem revelado que essa proposta era viável. Assim, foi possível acessar um intermediário avançado em 13 etapas e 12% de rendimento global. O fragmento sudoeste foi obtido em 3 etapas a partir do 5-bromoindol comercial, em rendimento global de 47% e empregando como etapas principais uma reação de Sonogashira e uma reação de acoplamento com 1-hidróxibenziodoxolone. Na segunda parte da tese são apresentados os resultados referentes ao estudo da etapa-chave para a conexão dos fragmentos nordeste e sudoeste, através do desenvolvimento de uma nova metodologia de α-alquinilação eletrofílica de compostos carbonílicos aromáticos não-ativados com o iodo hipervalente TMS-EBX. Empregando tBuOK como base e TBAF como agente ativante, cetonas mono- e dialquiniladas foram obtidas em ótimos rendimentos. A utilização de aldeídos como substratos também se mostrou viável, o que permitiu acessar derivados de álcoois homopropargílicos em rendimentos moderados após a redução dos produtos com NaBH4 in situ. Finalmente, a aplicação da metodologia desenvolvida foi demonstrada através da preparação de um intermediário de alquinilação avançado. A atividade antiproliferativa desse composto foi investigada, mostrando-se apenas fracamente ativo com uma atividade mais pronunciada para células de carcinoma de ovário e leucemia. / In the first part of the thesis several synthetic routes for the preparation of the northeast and southwest fragments of the bisindolic alkaloid Raputindole D, whose total synthesis has never been described, were approached. The initial proposal was to obtain the northeast fragment in 13 steps from the commercial compound 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, using as key steps a Diels-Alder reaction, a reductive ring opening and a ring contraction with iodine(III). Employing a regioselective Diels-Alder reaction of a silyl substituted intermediate, the construction of a linear tricyclic unit was achieved with the obtainment of a single regioisomer. However, all attempts to ring opening of the oxabicyclic alkene only resulted in the undesired regioisomer, although previous studies with model compounds revealed that this proposal was feasible. Thus, it was possible to access an advanced intermediary in 13 steps and 12% overall yield. The southwest fragment was obtained in 3 steps from commercial 5- bromoindole in 47% overall yield and employing as main steps a Sonogashira reaction and a coupling with 1-hydroxybenziodoxolone. In the second part of the thesis are presented the results regarding the study of the key step for the connection of the northeast and southwest fragments, through the development of a new methodology for the electrophilic α-alkynylation of non-activated aromatic carbonyl compounds with the hypervalent iodine TMS- EBX. Employing t-BuOK as a base and TBAF as an activating agent, mono- and dialkynylated ketones were obtained in good yields. The use of aldehydes as substrates also proved to be possible, allowing to access homopropargylic alcohols derivatives in moderate yields after reduction in situ using NaBH4. Finally, the application of the developed methodology was demonstrated by the preparation of an advanced alkynylation intermediate. The antiproliferative activity of this compound was investigated, showing only weakly active with a more pronounced activity for ovarian carcinoma and leukemia cells.

Na primeira parte da tese foram abordadas diversas rotas sintéticas para a preparação dos fragmentos nordeste e sudoeste do alcaloide bisindólico Raputindol D, cuja síntese total nunca foi descrita. A proposta inicial era obter o fragmento nordeste em 13 etapas a partir do composto comercial 3-metil-4-nitrofenol, utilizando como etapas-chave uma reação de Diels-Alder, uma abertura redutiva de anel e uma contração de anel com iodo(III). Empregando uma reação de Diels-Alder regiosseletiva de um intermediário silil substituído, a construção de uma unidade tricíclica linear foi alcançada com a obtenção de um único regioisômero. Entretanto, todas as tentativas de abertura de anel do alqueno oxabicíclico resultaram apenas no regioisômero não desejado, apesar dos estudos prévios com compostos modelo terem revelado que essa proposta era viável. Assim, foi possível acessar um intermediário avançado em 13 etapas e 12% de rendimento global. O fragmento sudoeste foi obtido em 3 etapas a partir do 5-bromoindol comercial, em rendimento global de 47% e empregando como etapas principais uma reação de Sonogashira e uma reação de acoplamento com 1-hidróxibenziodoxolone. Na segunda parte da tese são apresentados os resultados referentes ao estudo da etapa-chave para a conexão dos fragmentos nordeste e sudoeste, através do desenvolvimento de uma nova metodologia de α-alquinilação eletrofílica de compostos carbonílicos aromáticos não-ativados com o iodo hipervalente TMS-EBX. Empregando tBuOK como base e TBAF como agente ativante, cetonas mono- e dialquiniladas foram obtidas em ótimos rendimentos. A utilização de aldeídos como substratos também se mostrou viável, o que permitiu acessar derivados de álcoois homopropargílicos em rendimentos moderados após a redução dos produtos com NaBH4 in situ. Finalmente, a aplicação da metodologia desenvolvida foi demonstrada através da preparação de um intermediário de alquinilação avançado. A atividade antiproliferativa desse composto foi investigada, mostrando-se apenas fracamente ativo com uma atividade mais pronunciada para células de carcinoma de ovário e leucemia. / In the first part of the thesis several synthetic routes for the preparation of the northeast and southwest fragments of the bisindolic alkaloid Raputindole D, whose total synthesis has never been described, were approached. The initial proposal was to obtain the northeast fragment in 13 steps from the commercial compound 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, using as key steps a Diels-Alder reaction, a reductive ring opening and a ring contraction with iodine(III). Employing a regioselective Diels-Alder reaction of a silyl substituted intermediate, the construction of a linear tricyclic unit was achieved with the obtainment of a single regioisomer. However, all attempts to ring opening of the oxabicyclic alkene only resulted in the undesired regioisomer, although previous studies with model compounds revealed that this proposal was feasible. Thus, it was possible to access an advanced intermediary in 13 steps and 12% overall yield. The southwest fragment was obtained in 3 steps from commercial 5- bromoindole in 47% overall yield and employing as main steps a Sonogashira reaction and a coupling with 1-hydroxybenziodoxolone. In the second part of the thesis are presented the results regarding the study of the key step for the connection of the northeast and southwest fragments, through the development of a new methodology for the electrophilic α-alkynylation of non-activated aromatic carbonyl compounds with the hypervalent iodine TMS- EBX. Employing t-BuOK as a base and TBAF as an activating agent, mono- and dialkynylated ketones were obtained in good yields. The use of aldehydes as substrates also proved to be possible, allowing to access homopropargylic alcohols derivatives in moderate yields after reduction in situ using NaBH4. Finally, the application of the developed methodology was demonstrated by the preparation of an advanced alkynylation intermediate. The antiproliferative activity of this compound was investigated, showing only weakly active with a more pronounced activity for ovarian carcinoma and leukemia cells.

Ce travail a tout d’abord porté sur la réactivité des dérivés borés puis sur la réaction de O-alkylation des alcools aromatiques. L’utilisation des composés borés est en plein essor. Ils sont employés comme partenaires de couplage dans la réaction de Suzuki et les réactions d’additions [1,4] catalysées au rhodium pour la synthèse de molécules à hautes valeurs ajoutées. La polarisation de la liaison C-B induit le caractère nucléophile de ces composés. Cette réactivité a été exploitée pour la formation de liaisons C-F par fluoration électrophile. L’utilisation de Selectfluor® comme agent de fluoration aboutit à de bons rendements. Toutefois, la nucléophilie des composés alkylborés peut être inversée par substitution nucléophile oxydante. Ainsi, une méthode créant des liaisons C-N a pu être développée et a permis la synthèse d’amides à partir de nitriles et de sels de trifluoroborates de potassium en présence de Cu(OAc)2 et BF3.OEt2. En vue de l’importance de la chimie des éthers en synthèse organique, une méthode de préparation d’éthers aryliques a été développée au laboratoire. En partant d’un système stœchiométrique en trifluorure de bore, un système catalytique impliquant du triflate de cérium a été mis au point. Afin de répondre au mieux au concept de la chimie verte, un système catalytique hétérogène, sans solvant, a été décrit. Dans ce cas, le catalyseur employé est le Nafion® NR50, facilement recyclable, sans perte d’activité, et conduisant à de bons rendements avec les alcools aliphatiques et aromatiques. Des amines aromatiques secondaires peuvent également être préparées par cette méthode / This thesis describes the study of the reactivity of boron compounds and the O-alkylation of aromatic alcohols. The use of boronic derivatives increased considerably over the past decades. There are used as cross-coupling partners in the Suzuki reaction and for 1,4 rhodium-catalyzed addition reaction. The nucleophilic nature of these compounds was induced by the C-B bond polarization. This peculiar reactivity was studied for the C-F bond formation. The use of Selectfluor® as fluorinating agent leads to good yields. Nevertheless, the polarity of the C-B bond could be reversed by oxidative nucleophilic substitution. Thus, C–N bond could be formed from nitriles and potassium trifluoroborate salts promoted by Cu(OAc)2 in the presence of BF3.OEt2. Due to the importance of ether chemistry in organic synthesis, the O-alkylation of phenol derivatives was achieved in the laboratory. From a stoichiometric amount of Lewis acid, BF3.OEt2, a catalytic system was developed involving cerium triflate. Then, the focus on green chemistry led to use a heterogeneous catalyst. Where Nafion® NR50 appears as a suitable catalyst for the ether synthesis

L’importance des produits naturels dans le développement de nouveaux médicaments est indéniable. Malheureusement, l’isolation et la purification de ces produits de leurs sources naturelles procure normalement de très faibles quantités de molécules biologiquement actives. Ce problème a grandement limité l’accès à des études biologiques approfondies et/ou à une distribution sur une grande échelle du composé actif. Par exemple, la famille des pipéridines contient plusieurs composés bioactifs isolés de sources naturelles en très faible quantité (de l’ordre du milligramme). Pour pallier à ce problème, nous avons développé trois nouvelles approches synthétiques divergentes vers des pipéridines polysubstituées contenant une séquence d’activation/désaromatisation d’un sel de pyridinium chiral et énantioenrichi. La première approche vise la synthèse de pipéridines 2,5-disubstituées par l’utilisation d’une réaction d’arylation intermoléculaire sur des 1,2,3,4-tétrahydropyridines 2-substituées. Nous avons ensuite développé une méthode de synthèse d’indolizidines et de quinolizidines par l’utilisation d’amides secondaires. Cette deuxième approche permet ainsi la synthèse formelle d’alcaloïdes non-naturels à la suite d’une addition/cyclisation diastéréosélective et régiosélective sur un intermédiaire pyridinium commun. Finalement, nous avons développé une nouvelle approche pour la synthèse de pipéridines 2,6-disubstituées par l’utilisation d’une réaction de lithiation dirigée suivie d’un couplage croisé de Negishi ou d’un parachèvement avec un réactif électrophile. Le développement de transformations chimiosélectives et versatiles est un enjeu crucial et actuel pour les chimistes organiciens. Nous avons émis l’hypothèse qu’il serait possible d’appliquer le concept de chimiosélectivité à la fonctionnalisation d’amides, un des groupements le plus souvent rencontrés dans la structure des molécules naturelles. Dans le cadre précis de cette thèse, des transformations chimiosélectives ont été réalisées sur des amides secondaires fonctionnalisés. La méthode repose sur l’activation de la fonction carbonyle par l’anhydride triflique en présence d’une base faible. Dans un premier temps, l’amide ainsi activé a été réduit sélectivement en fonction imine, aldéhyde ou amine en présence d’hydrures peu nucléophiles. Alternativement, un nucléophile carboné a été employé afin de permettre la synthèse de cétones ou des cétimines. D’autre part, en combinant un amide et un dérivé de pyridine, une réaction de cyclisation/déshydratation permet d’obtenir les d’imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines polysubstituées. De plus, nous avons brièvement appliqué ces conditions d’activation au réarrangement interrompu de type Beckmann sur des cétoximes. Une nouvelle voie synthétique pour la synthèse d’iodures d’alcyne a finalement été développée en utilisant une réaction d’homologation/élimination en un seul pot à partir de bromures benzyliques et allyliques commercialement disponibles. La présente méthode se distincte des autres méthodes disponibles dans la littérature par la simplicité des procédures réactionnelles qui ont été optimisées afin d’être applicable sur grande échelle. / The importance of natural products in the development of new drugs is undeniable. Unfortunately, the isolation and purification of those products from their natural sources provides normally very small amounts of the desired bioactive molecules. Consequently there is largely limited access to in-depth biological studies and/or to the large scale distribution of the bioactive compound. For example, the piperidine family contains a large diversity of bioactive compounds isolated from natural sources in very limited quantities (on the order of milligram scale). To address the issue, we have developed three new divergent synthetic approaches towards polysubstituted piperidines containing an activation/dearomatization sequence from a chiral and enantioenchired pyridinium salt. The first approach aims towards the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted piperidines by the use of an intermolecular arylation reaction on 2-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines. Then, we have developed a synthetic method for indolizidines and quinolizidines starting from secondary amides. The second approach leads to the formal synthesis of non-natural alkaloids via a highly diastereoselective and regioselective addition/cyclization from a common pyridinium intermediate. Finally, we have found a new approach for the synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted piperidines by the use of a directed lithiation sequence followed by either a Negishi cross-coupling reaction or a quench with an electrophilic reagent. The development of highly chemoselective and versatile transformations are crucial to organic chemists. We have issued the hypothesis that it could be possible to apply the chemoselectivity concept towards the functionalization of amides, one of the most encountered subunits in the structures of natural products. In the specific context of the thesis, the highly chemoselective transformations are realized on functionalized secondary amides. The method relies on the activation of the carbonyl function of the amide by triflic anhydride in presence of a weak base. Firstly, the activated amide can be selectively reduced to imine, aldehyde, or amine oxidation state in the presence of a poorly nucleophilic hydride source. Alternatively, a carbon nucleophile could also be employed in order to allow the synthesis of ketones or ketimines. By combining an amide with a pyridine derivative a cyclization/dehydration reaction was used for the synthesis of polysubstituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines. Moreover, we have briefly applied the activation conditions to the interrupted Beckmann rearrangement of ketoximes. We have finally developed a new synthetic pathway for iodoalkynes by using a one-pot homologation/elimination reaction from commercially available benzylic and allylic bromides. The present method is distinctively different from literature precedents by the simplicity of the reaction procedures and purifications which were optimized in order to be applied to large scale synthesis