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The possible existence of extraterrestrial life forms has been of interest to humans for many millennia. In the past few decades space travel has provided an opportunity to search life outside of Earth. Chiral molecules are critical molecules in Earth-based life and are among the first chemical molecules sought after as proof of potential extraterrestrial life; however, identification of these chiral molecules is difficult due the lack of sensitive instruments. The objective of this work is to develop a benchmark reaction to be used as a guide in the development of instrumentation, such as a polarimeter, to be used in the search for extraterrestrial life. To achieve this objective, to investigate the enzyme mandelate racemase (MR), which catalyzes the racemization between the enantiomers of mandelate. MR is a member of the enolase superfamily, which contains a (alpha/beta)7-b barrel domain, the fold most frequently found among all known protein structures. Activity of the enzyme was measured at low temperatures and in non-aqueous media, as these are the conditions that represent extraterrestrial terrain. We find that mandelate racemase (MR) is active in concentrated ammonium salt solutions and water-in-oil microemulsions in a temperature range between 30C to 70C; however, the enzyme is not active in several organic cryosolvents. The stability of the structure of MR was also explored. Using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) we observe the unfolding of the enzyme was irreversible and therefore kinetically controlled. We also found proof for divergent evolution of the enolase superfamily, providing evidence for divergent evolution across the MR and muconate lactonizing enzyme (MLE) subfamilies has been demonstrated. However, we also conclude that reactions yielding a polarimetric signal, such as racemizations employed in this work, are suitable as a tool to find signs of life.

ABSTRACT STEREOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE CYCLITOL PRECURSORS VIA CHEMOENZYMATIC METHOD AND SYNTHESIS OF A NUCLEOSIDE PRECURSOR Oguzkaya, Funda M.S., Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Cihangir Tanyeli June 2006, 99 pages &amp / #945 / &#039 / -acetoxylation of &amp / #945 / ,&szlig / -unsaturated cyclic ketones was adjusted via Mn(OAc)3 in regioselective manner. Then, PLE hydrolysis was carried out so as to afford enantiomerically enriched &amp / #945 / &#039 / -acetoxylated and &amp / #945 / &#039 / -hydroxylated cyclic compounds. From our knowledge about the literature and previous works dealing with &amp / #945 / &#039 / -hydroxylated products which are easily racemized, protection was directly adjusted via acetylation so as to prevent this possibility. Resulting enantiomerically enriched products were subjected to Upjohn Dihydroxylation to obtain cyclitol precursors and following Luche Reduction of ketone was adjusted so as to obtain corresponding cyclitols. In addition with such synthetic design, firstly dimethyl cyclopent-3-ene-1,1-dicarboxylate was obtained so as to reach in former manner 3-cyclopentene-1,1-dicarboxylic acid, and in latter manner cyclopent-3-enecarboxylic acid. Resulting compound was converted to 6-iodo-2-oxa-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-3-one and followingly to the target nucleoside precursor which is 2-oxa-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-3-one.

Chiral polyfunctionalized 1,5-dicarbonyl compounds are important synthetic intermediates and starting materials for many biologically active compounds so their synthesis has a great importance in the literature. In the first step, 1,3-cyclohexandione and other b-diketone derivatives are protected under acid catalyzation and their corresponding b-keto enol ether derivatives are obtained. These b-keto enol ethers are then converted to a-acetoxy enones in racemic form by Mn(OAc)3 mediated oxidation. Enzymatic kinetic resolution is applied to the racemic acetoxy enones by using different lipases and enantiomerically pure a-acetoxy and hydroxy enones are obtained. Then, dicarbonyl derivatives are obtained by hydrolizing racemic a-acetoxy enones. Oxidative cleavage of racemic a-acetoxy diketones in the presence of oxone gives corresponding racemic 1,5-dimethyl ester derivatives. By using this reaction as a reference, same reactions are applied to the chiral a-acetoxy and hydroxy diketones in order to synthesize chiral a-acetoxy and hydroxy 1,5-diester derivatives.

An unexpected tricyclic ether formation instead of acetate addition to the double bond of a norbornene derivative aroused our interest to explore the mechanism of this reaction. Mechanistic studies showed that methylene diacetate (MDA) was formed in the stock solution (NBu4OAc + dichloromethane) and decomposed to formaldehyde under Lewis or Br&oslash / nsted acid conditions. Formaldehyde and olefin condensation (Prins reaction) clearly explains the formation of the unexpected product. Same methodology was then successfully applied to develop a one-step procedure for the synthesis of 3-chloro-3-arylpropanols, which are important starting materials for the synthesis of biologically active benzanilide derivatives. Styrenes were reacted with MDA in the presence of boron trifluoride to give the corresponding 3-chloro-3-arylpropanols in 36&amp / #8211 / 84% yield. The second part of the thesis involves kinetic resolution of 3-chloro-3-arylpropanols by lipase mediated acylation which are described for the first time. Acylation with the CCL provided the best enantioselectivity amongst the enzymes used. Enantiomerically enriched products with up to 78% ee were obtained after two successive lipase-mediated acylations. Different substituents on the aromatic ring and bromide, instead of chloride, at the benzylic position of the substrates were found to have no drastic influence on the enantioselectivity of the reaction. In the last part, easily available ferrocenyl substituted aziridinylmethanols (FAM) were complexed with nickel to catalyze the enantioselective diethylzinc addition to various enones with ee&amp / #8217 / s reaching 82%. The ligands can be recovered and used without losing their activity. The sense of asymmetric induction was found to be dependent on the configuration of the aziridine ring.

The thesis subject is mainly involved in Green Chemistry approach. Thiophene, furan and pyridine carboxaldehydes were chosen as starting compounds and vinylation and allylation with Grignard reaction afforded the corresponding racemic heteroaryl substituted allylic and homoallylic alcohols. Subsequent resolution with enzymes (PS-Amano II, Lipozym and Novazym 435) gave enantiomerically enriched alcohols with the e.e. values varied between 65 and 99%. The absolute configurations of all substrates are known. As a result of O-allylation with the common procedure formed the feasible carbon backbone for the ring closing metathesis reaction. All ring closing metathesis reactions were performed by Grubbs&rsquo / catalyst with just 5% catalyst loading. The absolute configurations of dihydrofuran and dihydropyran derivatives are known, since the chiral center configurations of all substrates are preserved throughout all the applied processes.

Optically active polychlorinated norbornene systems are important starting compounds for the synthesis of many complex molecules. The synthetic strategy of this study mainly depends upon the enzymatic resolution of hydroxymethyl-substituted polychlorinated norbornene structures. The enantiomerically enriched acetoxymethyl derivatives were synthesized in high ee values by several lipases. The absolute configuration of tetrachlorinated norbornene system was determined by X-ray analysis. The second part of the thesis involves the ruthenium and cerium-catalyzed oxidation reactions of various polychlorinated norbornene derivatives to afford &amp / #945 / -diketones. The regioselectivity of ruthenium catalyst was tested in polychlorinated norbornadiene systems. In the third part of the study, cyclopentanoid derivatives were synthesized in high chemical yield starting from enantio-enriched both tetra- and hexa-chlorinated norbornene derivatives. In the last part of the study, stereo- and regioselective synthesis of carbasugar systems which are potential glycosidase inhibitors were performed. Starting from enantio-enriched acetoxymethyl substituted tetrachloro norbornene system both carbasugar by cleavage of C1-C7 bond and &lsquo / confused&rsquo / carbasugar by cleavage of C4-C7 bond were synthesized.

The racemic homoallylic and homopropargylic alcohol derivatives were resolved by applying chemoenzymatic method using various lipase type enzymes i.e., PS-C II, Lipozyme, CAL-B. The enantiomeric excess values of the resultant alcohols were determined by HPLC. These enantiomerically enriched homoallylic and homopropargylic alcohols were subjected to N-propargylation and N-allylation, respectively, by SN2 and modified Mitsunobu reactions. During the course of all reactions, stereochemistry of the chiral centers were under controlling according to the known reaction mechanisms. The resultant chiral N-tosylated enyne derivatives afforded the corresponding chiral fused cyclopenta[c]pyridinone derivatives (69, 73, 75 and 77) with acceptable chemical yields and excellent diastereoslectivity depending upon the conformational effect on the complete remote stereochemical control for the newly generated chiral centers. The chemoenzymatic applications done with biocatalysis (lipases) and the Pauson-Khand reaction are involved in &ldquo / Green Chemistry&rdquo / approach.

In this thesis, six different biosensors based on conducting polymers of poly 4-(2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-1-l) benzenamine [poly(SNSNH2)] and poly(1- (4-nitrophenyl)-2,5-di(2-thienyl)-1H-pyrrole [poly(SNSNO2)] were prepared. Electrochemical technique was used for polymerization of conducting polymers and two different immobilization techniques / crosslinking and adsorption were used for immobilizing enzyme or microbial in the conducting polymer matrices. The proposed biosensors were characterized and optimized. Optimum pH, thickness of conducting polymer and biological material amount were determined. Linearity, repeatability and operational stability experiments were performed. Carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles were also added to the biosensing system to see the effects of nanoparticles. The biosensors also used for ethanol and/or glucose biosensing in commercial samples. In the first part of thesis, a biosensor was designed by immobilizing Gluconobacter oxydans in poly(SNSNH2) matrix on graphite electrode. The biosensor preparation method was a two-step procedure where the cells were immobilized by adsorption on the surface after the electropolymerization step.Use of dialysis membrane to cover the surface after immobilization conserves the bioactive surface during the operation. The preparation is simple and not time consuming. Systems proposed showed good linearity and repeatability as well as high operational stability. Glucose amount in fruit juice, ethanol amount in vodka and whisky were determined. In the second part of thesis, a second biosensor was designed with electrochemical polymerization of 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2,5-di(2-thienyl)- 1H-pyrrole via cyclic voltammetry on graphite electrode. Afterwards, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Gluconobacter oxydans were immobilized successfully on the conducting polymer matrix separately. The proposed biosensors showed good linear range, and repeatability as well as high operational stability. In the third and fourth parts, gold nanoparticle and carbon nanotube effects were studied on poly(SNSNH2)/glucose oxidase biosensor, respectively. Covalent binding of glucose oxidase was achieved to poly(SNSNH2) by the help of glutaraldehyde on the top of graphite and carbon paste electrodes. Nanoparticle amount and optimum pH were determined for both biosensors. After analytical characterization, glucose amount in two fruit juices were determined with poly(SNSNH2)/GOx/AuNP and poly(SNSNH2)/ GOx/CNT biosensors. In the last part, biosensor was designed with immobilizing alcohol oxidase in poly(SNSNH2) matrix via crosslinking with glutaraldehyde on platinum electrode. The proposed biosensor was characterized and optimized in terms of thickness, enzyme loading, pH, AuNPs, CNTs, linear range, repeatability and operational stability.

The main subject of this thesis is synthesis of chiral diene systems via Ring Closing Enyne Metathesis (RCEM). Furan and thiophene carbaldehydes were chosen as starting compounds. As a result of allylation and propargylation reaction of these aldehydes targeting racemic heteroaryl substituted homoallylic and homopropargylic alcohols were synthesized. Enantiomerically enriched alcohols were obtained by enzymatic resolution method with different enzymes (PS-II, Lipozyme) with the high enantiomeric excess values. Absolute configurations of all alcohols are known. O-allylation and O-propargylation reactions of enantiomerically pure alcohols, afforded feasible enyne units for RCEM were synthesized successfully. All RCEM reactions were performed by using Grubbs&amp / #8223 / 1st generation catalyst. The absolute configuration of all chiral diene systems were known since during the course of the all reactions, configurations were preserved. As a last step, Diels-Alder reactions were applied to some of these chiral diene systems to get bicyclic compounds and comment on the stereoselectivity. Only one diastereomeric cycloadduct was observed as a result of Diels-Alder applications.