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The consumption of large quantities of fossil fuels on a yearly basis for energy purposes has led to the release of vast quantities of carbon dioxide into the Earth s atmosphere leading to global warming. In order to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere, procedures such as carbon dioxide capture and storage are currently being implemented, although this process is successful in decreasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration it results in the mindless storage of an otherwise synthetically useful reagent. The development of a viable method to capture carbon dioxide, followed by synthetic utilisation often referred to as CCU is currently gaining much attention. The main challenges in the development of a suitable utilisation reaction are energy and cost efficiency as well as the use of environmentally friendly conditions. Previous reports on utilisation include the catalytic incorporation of carbon dioxide into epoxides under electrochemical conditions, however this process had several drawbacks. In this project the shortcomings of this reported procedure have been addressed in order to develop a potentially viable utilisation process. The catalyst free electrocarboxylation of mono-substituted epoxides, using a magnesium anode/copper cathode electrode couple and tetrabutylammonium bromide supporting electrolyte in a sealed single compartment cell, was achieved under mild reaction conditions (1 atmosphere carbon dioxide pressure, 60 milliamperes constant current and 50 degree celsius heating), producing the corresponding 5-membered cyclic carbonate product in excellent yields (65-96%). Interestingly the use of sono-electrolysis allowed the reduction of para-substituted aromatic epoxides. The stoichiometric addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide was key for the effective activation of carbon dioxide and the epoxide. Similar carbon dioxide incorporation into analogous mono-substituted aziridines, synthesised using a modified Wenker synthesis allowed the formation of the corresponding cyclic carbamates in moderate to excellent yields (32-90%). The selective synthesis of 6-membered cyclic carbonates from oxetane substrates was also achieved in good yields (60-70%) as well the non-selective synthesis of polytrimethylene oxide. The electrochemical process also allowed the tandem formation of magnesium carbonate in quantitative yield (85%). Furthermore substrate free electrocarboxylation allowed the synthesis of alternative iron and zinc carbonates in excellent yield (83-85%) as well as the selective synthesis of aluminium oxalate (99%). Coupled with the high recovery of the supporting electrolyte (90%), this work has demonstrated the economical synthesis of industrially useful chemical feed-stocks under green conditions.

New electrochemical methods were developed to fabricate superparamagnetic organic-inorganic nanocomposites. The methods were based on the electrosynthesis of (gamma)Fe2O3, Mn3O4 and NiFe2O4 in situ in a polymer matrix. Various composite materials were developed using new electrochemical strategies, which were based on the use of strong and weak polyelectrolytes and polymer-metal ion complexes. The deposited films were studied by XRD, TG, DTA, SEM and AFM. The results show that cathodic deposits with thickness of several microns can be obtained on various conductive substrates. The results reveal that the weight percentage of inorganic phase in the deposits reduced with the increase of the polymer concentration in the electrochemical bath solution. The particle size distribution was measured by HRTEM and evaluated by theoretical models interpreting the magnetic measurement data. The two methods are in good agreement with each other. The results show that the average particle sizes of Mn3O4 and (gamma)-Fe2O3 can be adjusted by the selection of polymers with different functional properties, the polymer concentration in the solutions and annealing temperatures. The particle size distribution in the developed composites followed the lognormal distribution. A double-lognormal distribution was required to interpret the magnetization data of the system containing strong interparticle interactions, and to interpret the double-peak phenomenon observed in the imaginary part of the susceptibility in some nanocomposites. DC magnetization and AC susceptibility measurements were used to study the relationship between the magnetic properties .and the average particle size by studying the superparamagnetic behavior and ferrimagnetic phase transitions of (gamma)-Fe2O3 and Mn3O4 nanoparticles in the temperature range of 2 K - 300 K. The results show that the blocking temperature TB is mainly controlled by the average particle size of the nanoparticles, and increasing the average particle size results in an upward shift of the TB. One observes no frequency dependence of TB, which indicates strong interparticle interaction in the nanoparticle assembly, in agreement with the structural results. The results revealed superparamagnetic behavior in Mn3O4 nanoparticles below the ferrimagnetic Néel temperature TN, and that TB was identified by a peak in the temperature lower than the ferrimagnetic transition peak marked by TN in the AC measurement. It is found that both TB and TN of Mn3O4 depend on the average particle size, and reducing the average particle size of Mn3O4 from 3.5 nm to 2.8 run results in a shift of TB from 14 K to 7 K, and TN from 36 K to 31 K (bulk Mn3O4 TN= 42 K) / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Nesta tese, estudamos a eletrossíntese de polímeros conjugados eletroluminescentes no azul. Filmes de poli(p-fenileno) (PPP), co-poli(p-fenileno-pirrol) (CPPI) e co-poli(p-fenileno-3-metiltiofeno) (CFMET) foram preparados por voltametria cíclica em eletrodos de vidro condutor (ITO) em uma solução não-aquosa de acetonitrila e perclorato de tetrabutilamônio contendo os monômeros e pares de co-monômeros a diferentes concentrações. Durante a síntese dos filmes de PPP, CPPI e CP3MET, a célula eletroquímica foi posicionada dentro de uma caixa seca contendo CaCl2 como agente secante e em atmosfera de N2(g) super-seco com o objetivo de reduzir a umidade do ar no meio de síntese. A baixa umidade do ar obtida durante as medidas permitiu o controle de parâmetros de crescimento dos filmes de PPP e de seus derivados (CPPI e CP3MET). A morfologia dos filmes foi correlacionada aos seus valores de espessura e de rugosidade obtidos por microscopia de força atômica (AFM). As propriedades ópticas dos filmes foram também investigadas por espectroscopia no UV-VSNIR em função do número de ciclos da varredura obtidos durante a eletrossíntese. As respostas eletroquímicas, dos filmes de FPP, CPPI e CP3MET foram obtidas por voltametria cíclica em uma solução livre de monômero. Estes filmes tiveram ainda a confirmação de suas estruturas químicas por meio de resultados obtidos por espectroscopia no infravermelho (FTIR) e por microespectroscopia e mapeamento Raman / This work describes the electrochemical synthesis of poly(p-phenylene) (PPP), p-phenylene-pyrrole copolynier (GPPIC) and p-phenylene-3methylthiophene copolymer (CP3MET). The main interest in studying these materials comes from its blue-electroluminescent properties, which make them suitable for application in electroluminescent devices. The polymerization was carried out using cyclic voltammetry in an acetonitrile non-aqueous medium containing tetrabutylammonium perchlorate and different concentration of each monomer. All the films were synthesized onto indium-tin-oxide covered glass (EO) electrodes. In order to enhance the film quality, electropolymerization was carried out within a glove box containing CaCl2, which was added as a drying agent, and under N2 atmosphere. The low amount humidity during the measurements allowed us to correlate the morphological, electrochemical and optical properties of the films of PPP and derivatives (CPPI and CP3MET). The optical properties of the films were investigated by UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy after varying the number of cyclos reached during the preparation of the films. The electrochemical response of the films was analyzed via cyclic voltammetry using a monomer-free electrolytic solution. The morphology of the films was correlated to their values of thickness and roughness as obtained by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the structural characterization of PPP e their derivatives were obtained by micro-Raman spectroscopy and Raman mapping.

The first part of this thesis is concerned with the synthesis, characterisation and applications of surface functionalised carbon nanoparticles. Synthetic techniques are used to modify the existing surface architecture of carbon nanoparticles towards high surface area modified electrodes and pH sensing applications. Electrochemical and synthetic techniques have been used to study triple phase boundaries and enhance their properties towards a bulk synthetic technique, in which an electrolyte phase and redox probe phase are held separate. A salt matrix, ultrasound, high shear force and a carbon fibre membrane have all been used to form unique triple phase boundary environments in which electron and ion transfer processes can be studied and enhanced towards analytical and electrosynthetic applications. A number of electro-reduction reactions have been shown to be feasible using the triple phase boundary methodology. Alkenes, aldehydes and imines have all been successfully electro-reduced, analysed and optimised to elucidate the synthetic triple phase boundary mechanism.

Nesta tese, estudamos a eletrossíntese de polímeros conjugados eletroluminescentes no azul. Filmes de poli(p-fenileno) (PPP), co-poli(p-fenileno-pirrol) (CPPI) e co-poli(p-fenileno-3-metiltiofeno) (CFMET) foram preparados por voltametria cíclica em eletrodos de vidro condutor (ITO) em uma solução não-aquosa de acetonitrila e perclorato de tetrabutilamônio contendo os monômeros e pares de co-monômeros a diferentes concentrações. Durante a síntese dos filmes de PPP, CPPI e CP3MET, a célula eletroquímica foi posicionada dentro de uma caixa seca contendo CaCl2 como agente secante e em atmosfera de N2(g) super-seco com o objetivo de reduzir a umidade do ar no meio de síntese. A baixa umidade do ar obtida durante as medidas permitiu o controle de parâmetros de crescimento dos filmes de PPP e de seus derivados (CPPI e CP3MET). A morfologia dos filmes foi correlacionada aos seus valores de espessura e de rugosidade obtidos por microscopia de força atômica (AFM). As propriedades ópticas dos filmes foram também investigadas por espectroscopia no UV-VSNIR em função do número de ciclos da varredura obtidos durante a eletrossíntese. As respostas eletroquímicas, dos filmes de FPP, CPPI e CP3MET foram obtidas por voltametria cíclica em uma solução livre de monômero. Estes filmes tiveram ainda a confirmação de suas estruturas químicas por meio de resultados obtidos por espectroscopia no infravermelho (FTIR) e por microespectroscopia e mapeamento Raman / This work describes the electrochemical synthesis of poly(p-phenylene) (PPP), p-phenylene-pyrrole copolynier (GPPIC) and p-phenylene-3methylthiophene copolymer (CP3MET). The main interest in studying these materials comes from its blue-electroluminescent properties, which make them suitable for application in electroluminescent devices. The polymerization was carried out using cyclic voltammetry in an acetonitrile non-aqueous medium containing tetrabutylammonium perchlorate and different concentration of each monomer. All the films were synthesized onto indium-tin-oxide covered glass (EO) electrodes. In order to enhance the film quality, electropolymerization was carried out within a glove box containing CaCl2, which was added as a drying agent, and under N2 atmosphere. The low amount humidity during the measurements allowed us to correlate the morphological, electrochemical and optical properties of the films of PPP and derivatives (CPPI and CP3MET). The optical properties of the films were investigated by UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy after varying the number of cyclos reached during the preparation of the films. The electrochemical response of the films was analyzed via cyclic voltammetry using a monomer-free electrolytic solution. The morphology of the films was correlated to their values of thickness and roughness as obtained by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the structural characterization of PPP e their derivatives were obtained by micro-Raman spectroscopy and Raman mapping.

Les hétérocycles aromatiques sont des motifs structuraux rencontrés dans un grand nombre de substances d'intérêts biologiques ou pharmacologiques. Plus particulièrement, les pyridazines substituées font l'objet d'un intérêt grandissant pour leurs propriétés pharmaceutiques (antibactériens, anti-inflammatoires, médicaments cardiovasculaires…). De plus, les structures comportant des pyridazines peuvent également être utilisées en tant qu'agents chélatants de cations métalliques et s'ordonner en édifices utilisés en chimie supramoléculaire.Nous nous sommes donc intéressés à l'élaboration d'éléments de base comportant des cycles pyridaziniques de type aryl ou hétéroarylpyridazines. La mise au point de méthodes impliquant des espèces organométalliques a été l'un de nos objectifs primordial. L'élaboration de ces composés a été réalisée par formation de liaisons C-C. Une approche électrochimique d'hétérocouplage associé à une catalyse au nickel a été utilisée. Quelques limites à cette méthode ont cependant été observées dans le cas des couplages mettant en jeu des 3,6-dihalogénopyridazines. Une étude par électrochimie analytique a permis d'en comprendre les raisons. La seconde partie de notre travail a consisté en l'étude de la réactivité d'arylzinciques ou de triarylbismuths vis-à-vis de 3,6-dihalogénopyridazines / Heteroaromatic rings are present in various biological and pharmacological active molecules. Substituted aryl-pyridazines have given rise to considerable interest because of their diverse pharmacological properties (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular drugs…). Moreover, structures which contain pyridazines are used in supramolecular chemistry for their applications through self-assembly processes in the presence of metal ions.In order to elaborate building blocks containing pyridazine rings such as aryl or heteroaryl-pyridazines, we turned our intention on the development of complementary methods involving organometallic reagents. Transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of organometallic compounds with organic halides is one of the most powerful methods for the generation of C-C bonds.We chose to develop the most straightforward method involves heterocoupling reaction of aryl/heteroaryl compounds under electrochemical conditions (sacrificial anode process) associated to a nickel catalysis. However some limitations have been pointed out when 3,6-dihalogenopyridazines are involved in the cross-coupling reaction. An electrochemical study was investigated in order to propose some mechanistic considerations. A second part of this work consisted in the study of arylzinc and triarylbismuths reagents toward 3,6-dihalogenopyridazines

A critical concern in metabolic engineering is the need to balance the demand and supply of redox intermediates. Bioelectrochemical techniques offer a promising method to alleviate redox imbalances during the synthesis of biochemicals. Broadly, these techniques reduce intracellular NAD+ to NADH and therefore manipulate the cell’s redox balance. The cellular response to such redox changes and the additional reducing can be harnessed to produce desired metabolites. In the context of microbial fermentation, these bioelectrochemical techniques can improve product yields and/or productivity. We have developed a method to characterize the role of bioelectrosynthesis in chemical production using the genome-scale metabolic model of E. coli. The results elucidate the role of bioelectrosynthesis and its impact on biomass growth, cellular ATP yields and biochemical production. The results also suggest that strain design strategies can change for fermentation processes that employ microbial electrosynthesis and suggest that dynamic operating strategies lead to maximizing productivity.

A critical concern in metabolic engineering is the need to balance the demand and supply of redox intermediates. Bioelectrochemical techniques offer a promising method to alleviate redox imbalances during the synthesis of biochemicals. Broadly, these techniques reduce intracellular NAD+ to NADH and therefore manipulate the cell’s redox balance. The cellular response to such redox changes and the additional reducing can be harnessed to produce desired metabolites. In the context of microbial fermentation, these bioelectrochemical techniques can improve product yields and/or productivity. We have developed a method to characterize the role of bioelectrosynthesis in chemical production using the genome-scale metabolic model of E. coli. The results elucidate the role of bioelectrosynthesis and its impact on biomass growth, cellular ATP yields and biochemical production. The results also suggest that strain design strategies can change for fermentation processes that employ microbial electrosynthesis and suggest that dynamic operating strategies lead to maximizing productivity.