Optically active &amp / #945 / -hydroxy ketones are important subunits of many biologically active compounds and indispensable synthons for asymmetric synthesis. Benzaldehyde Lyase from Pseudomonas fluorescens Biovar I is a novel ThDP-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of benzoin type chiral &amp / #945 / -hydroxy ketones starting from both benzaldehyde and racemic benzoin derivatives. Benzaldehyde Lyase is the first example of enzymes in the literature which leads to a chemical resolution of enantiomers of benzoin derivatives through a C-C bond cleavage reaction. Chiral 2-hydroxypropiophenone derivatives are formed by benzaldehyde lyase (BAL), catalyzing C-C bond formation after a selective C-C bond cleavage of a benzoin derivative accepted as a substrate. The enzyme uses only the (R)-benzoin derivatives as substrate for the formation of (R)-HPP derivatives and it is highly stereoselective. Thus, in the presence of the acetaldehyde as the acceptor aldehyde, the C-C bond cleavage of the benzoin molecule followed by the carboligation of the acetaldehyde to yield chiral 2-hydroxy propiophenone derivatives. Given the racemic benzoin to the enzyme as the substrate in the presence of acetaldehyde, both the racemic resolution of the substrate, revealing the unreacted (S)-Benzoin and the formation of the corresponding R-HPP occur.

Thesis (M.S.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Keywords: clean extinguishing agent; c₆f-ketone; novec 1230; thermal decomposition products; halon alternative. Includes bibliographical references.

Sol-gel capillary microextraction (CME) is a new direction in solvent-free extraction and preconcentration of trace analytes. CME presents significant interest in environmental, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, biomedical, agricultural, food, flavor, and a host of other important areas. Sol-gel CME utilizes advanced material properties of organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gel polymers to perform efficient extraction and enrichment of target analytes from a variety of matrices. In this dissertation, two novel sol-gel coatings were developed for CME: (a) sol-gel benzyl-terminated dendrimer coating, and (b) sol-gel polytetrahydrofuran (poly-THF) coating. A detailed investigation was conducted to evaluate the performance of the newly developed sol-gel coatings in solvent-free extraction of a wide range of polar and nonpolar analytes. Sol-gel chemistry was used to chemically immobilize dendrimer- and poly-THF-based hybrid organic-inorganic coatings on fused silica capillary inner surface. The sol-gel coatings were created using a coating solution containing a sol-gel active organic component (dendrimer or poly-THF), a sol-gel precursor (methyltrimethoxysilane, MTMOS), a sol-gel catalyst (trifluoroacetic acid, TFA, 5% water) and a deactivating reagent (hexamethyldisilazane, HMDS). Sol-gel reactions were conducted inside a hydrothermally treated fused silica capillary for 60 min. A wall-bonded sol-gel coating was formed via condensation of silanol groups residing on the capillary inner surface with those on the sol-gel network fragments evolving in close vicinity of the capillary walls. Due to the strong chemical bonding with capillary inner walls, these sol-gel coatings showed excellent thermal and solvent stability in CME in hyphenation with gas chromatography (GC).

Two highly polar sol-gel coatings were developed for capillary microextraction (CME). One of the coatings contained cyanopropyl-polydimethylsiloxane (CN-PDMS) and the other low molecular weight polyethylene glycol. These highly polar coatings were immobilized via sol-gel chemistry allowing for direct chemical bonding to the inner surface of fused silica capillaries. These sol-gel coated microextraction capillaries were employed in CME for solvent-free microextraction and preconcentration of trace analytes (polar, moderately polar, and nonpolar) from aqueous matrices. CN-PDMS and short chain PEG extraction phases exhibit both polar and polarizable characteristics. Therefore, both sol-gel CN-PDMS and short chain sol-gel PEG coatings were able to extract analytes of different polarity from aqueous media. Both sol-gel CN-PDMS and sol-gel PEG coatings provided effective extraction of polar analytes such as free fatty acids, alcohols, and phenols without requiring derivatization, pH adjustment or salting out procedures commonly used in SPME experiments with conventional coatings. For each of these coatings, detection limits on the order of nanogram/liter (ng/L) were achieved for both polar and nonpolar analytes extracted simultaneously from aqueous media followed by GC-FID analysis. Both sol-gel CN-PDMS and short chain sol-gel PEG coated microextraction capillaries showed excellent run-to-run and capillary-to-capillary extraction reproducibility (GC peak area RSD < 6% & 5%, respectively) for nonpolar as well as polar analytes. For the sol-gel CN-PDMS coatings, the upper allowable conditioning temperatures were 330 degrees C and 350 degrees C, for the extraction of polar and nonpolar organic analytes, respectively. Similarly, the sol-gel PEG coatings used for the extraction of polar organic analytes survived a conditioning temperature of 340 degrees C. Both sol-gel CN-PDMS and sol-gel PEG coated microextraction capillaries showed no significant changes in the peak areas of the extracted analytes even after being washed with organic solvents (dichloromethane and methanol (1:1), v/v) for 24 hours. The excellent thermal and solvent stabilities can be attributed to the presence of chemical bonds between the sol-gel coatings and the fused silica surface.

The goal of this project was to synthesise potential flavour compounds combinatorially and identify key components for further investigation as flavourants in dairy products. This thesis describes the design and synthesis of libraries of ketones and γ-lactones that will be evaluated for flavour potential. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), the Fox, and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) were used throughout this study. Ketones were synthesised individually via a two-step sequence: a Grignard reaction followed by the oxidation of the resulting alcohol in Chapter 2. Some compounds selected from the Fox analysis were assessed by GC-O. The analysis gave promising results for aromatic and cyclopropyl ketones and a library of cyclopropyl ketones was prepared. Individual racemic lactones were synthesised via a two-step sequence: the Linstead modification of the Knoevenagel reaction and subsequent lactonisation in Chapter 3. Libraries of racemic γ-lactones (C8-C12), including α-substituted γ-lactones, were produced combinatorially. Further, synthesis of a library of γ-thionolactones was achieved by treatment of a library of γ-lactones with Lawesson's reagent. The libraries were analysed by GC-O. A (R)-dodecalactone was synthesised from L-glutamic acid and the (S)-enantiomer was synthesised by the same sequence from D-glutamic acid in Chapter 4. Asymmetric syntheses of both enantiomeric series of γ-lactones utilizing the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction was employed to give the libraries in Chapter 5. Libraries of a-substituted and β-substituted γ-lactones were synthesised combinatorially and analysed by GC-O.

This work describes an efficient method to obtaining new heterocycles from the reaction of acetalization of the ketonic carbonyl, followed by acylation of the enolether, generated in situ from the acetal derivative of 1,1-diphenylacetone, with trifluoroacetic anhydride, tricloroacetila of chloride, clorodiflúoracético anhydride, pentaflúorpropiônico anhydride in the absence of solvents. There were performed reactions of cyclocondensation between 1,1,1-trialo-4-alkoxy-3-alquen-2-ones and hydroxylamine hydrochloride, forming, in general, the 5-trialometil-5-hydroxy-4,5-diidroisoxazóis. To obtaining pyrazoline compounds, was proposed the cyclocondensation between the β-ketones alcoxivinil (ou é β-alcoxivinil ketones?) and four different dinucleophiles: monohydrate hydrazine, phenylhydrazine, thiosemicarbazide and aminoguanidine carbonate. All compounds synthesized on this work, since the acetal to the final heterocycles are inedited and their structures were confirmed by RMN 1H e 13C data. In this work, were also performed antimicrobial activity tests of some compounds against microorganisms, wherein some showed significant result for bacteria of great clinical interest, Staphylococcus aureus. / Este trabalho descreve um método eficiente para a obtenção de novos heterociclos a partir da reação de acetalização da carbonila cetônica, seguida pela acilação do enoléter, gerado in situ a partir do acetal derivado da 1,1-difenilacetona, com anidrido trifluoracético, cloreto de tricloroacetila, anidrido clorodiflúoracético e anidrido pentaflúorpropiônico na ausência de solventes. Foram realizadas reações de ciclocondensação entre as 1,1,1-trialo-4-alcoxi-3-alquen-2-onas e cloridrato de hidroxilamina, formando, de maneira geral, os 5-trialometil-5-hidroxi-4,5-diidroisoxazóis. Para obtenção dos compostos pirazolínicos, foi proposta a ciclocondensação entre as β-alcoxivinil cetonas e quatro diferentes dinucleófilos: monohidrato de hidrazina, fenilhidrazina, tiosemicarbazida e carbonato de aminoguanidina. Todos os compostos sintetizados neste trabalho, desde o acetal até os heterociclos finais são inéditos e suas estruturas foram confirmadas por dados de RMN 1H e 13C. Neste trabalho, também foram realizados testes de atividade antimicrobiana de alguns compostos contra microorganismos, sendo que alguns apresentaram significativo resultado para a bactéria de grande interesse clínico, Staphylococcus aureus.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / A espÃcie Ipomoea batatas, pertencente à famÃlia Convolvulaceae e popularmente conhecida como batata-doce, batata, camote, boniato, apichu e kumara à uma planta tuberosa de folhas longas e caule que atinge atà 3 metros de comprimento sendo cultivada em todo Brasil devido a sua ampla capacidade de adaptaÃÃo. Diversos trabalhos encontrados na literatura envolvendo o isolamento de substÃncias da batata-doce (BD) descreveram a presenÃa de compostos com atividades biolÃgicas e farmacolÃgicas em sua composiÃÃo, destacando-se as cumarinas esculetina, umbeliferona e escopoletina, com propriedades anticoagulantes e inibitÃrias da replicaÃÃo do HIV. AlÃm desses, sÃo reportadas tambÃm a presenÃa de antocianinas, Ãcidos clorogÃnicos, entre outros. O uso do complexo enzimÃtico de BD como catalisador biolÃgico tambÃm à descrito na literatura sendo observada uma relaÃÃo direta do produto obtido com o meio em que a reaÃÃo ocorre na biorreduÃÃo de cetonas prÃ-quirais. Essa relaÃÃo que despertou o interesse no estudo da espÃcie como biocatalisador em reaÃÃes orgÃnicas, principal objetivo do presente trabalho. Inicialmente, foram avaliadas a capacidade biocatalÃtica de BD e a influÃncia de fatores como: quantidade de biocatalisador, quantidade de substrato, presenÃa de co-solvente, meio tamponante e presenÃa de polivinilpirrolidona (PVP) em reaÃÃes de reduÃÃo da acetofenona 1 obtendo-se um excesso dos Ãlcoois (R)-1-feniletanol nas reaÃÃes em meio aquoso ou tamponante com bioconversÃo variando entre 3,5 â 98,3 % e excesso enantiomÃrico (ee) entre 21,2 â 80,0 % e inversÃo na configuraÃÃo obtendo-se (S)-1-feniletanol como produto majoritÃrio nas reaÃÃes com co-solvente ou PVP com valores de conversÃo variando de 1,0 â 82,8 % e ee entre 11,6 â 96,7 %. As avaliaÃÃes estenderam-se ao uso de substratos derivados de 1 onde observou-se uma tendÃncia dessa inversÃo na configuraÃÃo do produto majoritÃrio nas reaÃÃes onde utilizou-se apenas Ãgua no meio e nas reaÃÃes onde adicionou-se PVP, mais acentuada nos compostos p-substituÃdos, seguida dos m-substituÃdos e o-substituÃdos. Posteriormente, foram utilizados substratos como cetonas alifÃticas, aldeÃdos e nitrocompostos avaliando a influÃncia da presenÃa de PVP no meio reacional com conversÃes variando de 3,0 â 100,0 %. ReaÃÃes de hidrÃlise de Ãsteres biocatalisadas por BD com e sem PVP tambÃm foram realizadas. Os valores de conversÃo e excesso enantiomÃrico dos produtos prÃ-quirais foram analisados por cromatografia lÃquida de alta eficiÃncia (CLAE) e cromatografia gasosa com espectrÃmetro de massas (CG-EM). / Ipomoea batatas specie, belongs to the family Convolvulaceae and popularly known as sweet potato, potato, camote, boniato, apichu and kumara is a tuberous plant of long leaves and stems that reach up to 3 meters long been cultivated throughout Brazil due to its wide adaptability. Several studies in the literature involving the isolation of substances from sweet potato (BD) described the presence of compounds with biological and pharmacological activities in its composition, highlighting the coumarins esculetin, umbelliferone and scopoletin with anticoagulant properties and inhibitory replication HIV. In addition to these, are also reported the presence of anthocyanins, chlorogenic acids, among others. The use of BD as enzyme complex biological catalyst is also described in the literature was observed a direct correlation product obtained with the medium wherein the reaction occurs in the bioreduction of prochiral ketones. This relationship that sparked interest in the study of the species as biocatalyst in organic reactions, main objective of the present work. Initially, we evaluated the ability of biocatalytic BD and the influence of factors such as the amount of biocatalyst, amount of substrate, co-solvent, buffer means and the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in reactions of reduction of acetophenone first obtaining an excess the alcohols (R)-1-phenylethanol in reactions in aqueous buffer with or bioconversion range from 3.5 to 98.3% enantiomeric excess (ee) between 21.2 to 80.0% and inversion of configuration to yield (S)-1-phenylethanol as the major product in reactions with co-solvent or PVP conversion values ranging from 1.0 to 82.8% ee and from 11.6 to 96.7%. The evaluations were extended to the use of derivatives substrate 1 where there was a trend reversal in this configuration major product in reactions where only water was used and reactions among which PVP was added, the sharper the compounds p- substituted, then the msubstituted and o-substituted. Subsequently, they were used as substrates aliphatic ketones, aldehydes and nitro evaluating the influence of the presence of PVP in the reaction with conversions ranging from 3.0 to 100.0%. The hydrolysis of esters by BD biocatalisadas with and without PVP were also performed. The values of conversion and enantiomeric excess of the pro-chiral products were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS)

Esta tese apresenta um estudo sobre a contração de anel de olefinas e cetonas cíclicas promovida por sais de tálio(III). A reação de uma série de cicloexanonas e cis e trans-2-decalonas com TTN em CH2Cl2 levou aos correspondentes produtos de contração em rendimentos muito bons, desde que não houvesse um grupo metila em &#945;-carbonila. A reação de 3- e 4-alquilcicloexanonas, bem como de trans-2-decalonas, ocorreu com alto grau de seletividade. As diastereosseletividades observadas estão de acordo com o mecanismo proposto por McKillop. O sistema indânico, resultante da contração de um dos anéis do sistema bicíclico[4.4.0], foi construído de três maneiras diferentes. A reação de 1-tetralonas com TTN/K-10 em pentano forneceu 1-indanocarboxilatos de metila em rendimentos razoáveis, enquanto que o tratamento de 1,2-diidronaftalenos com TTN em MeOH levou aos correspondentes produtos de contração em bons rendimentos, quando não havia grupos alquílicos ligados à dupla ligação. Finalmente, a reação de dois álcoois homoalílicos, contendo a dupla ligação endocíclica, com TTN em uma mistura 1:1 de AcOH e H2O, levou às correspondentes 1-(2,3-diidro-1H-1-indanil)-3-hidroxi-1- propanonas em rendimentos excelentes. / This thesis presents studies toward the ring contraction of ketones and olefins promoted by thallium(III) The reaction of alkylcyclohexanones and cis and trans-2-decalones with TTN in CH2Cl2 led to the corresponding ring contraction products in very good yields, providing there is no methyl group at &#945;-carbonyl position. The reaction of 3- and 4-alkylcyclohexanones, as well as trans-2-decalones, occurred with high degree of selectivity. The observed diastereoselectivities agree with the McKillop\'s mechanism. The indan ring system was constructed by three different protocols. The reaction of 1-tetralones with TTN/K-10 in pentane afforded methyl 1-indanecarboxylates in reasonable yields, while treatment of 1,2-dihydronaphathlenes with TTN in MeOH furnished the corresponding ring contraction products in good yields, as long as there is no alkyl group at the double bond. Finally, the reaction of two homoallylic alcohols, bearing an endocyclic double bond, with TTN in a 1:1 mixture of AcOH and H2O, led to 1-(2,3-dihydro-1H-1-indenyl)-3-hydroxypropan-1-ones in excellent yields.

A técnica de ressonância ciclotrônica de íons permite aprisionar numa cela adequada íons produzidos por impacto de elétrons sobre um gás a baixa pressão (10-7 - 10-4 Torr) . Os íons são mantidos na cela por tempos de 3 a 10 ms e dessa maneira podem reagir com moléculas neutras do gás do qual provém ou, de algum outro gás introduzido no espectrômetro. Resultam dessas reações produtos iônicos, que frequentemente foram observados reagirem novamente com moléculas neutras, dando origem a íons terciários. Todos os íons são detectados pela potência que absorvem de um campo de rádio-frequência conveniente, podendo ser registrado um espectro, no qual cada íon é caracterizado por sua massa, sendo a intensidade do pico correspondente proporcional à corrente iônica parcial do lon na cela. Contudo, a situação é tal que íons de massa maior permanecem por tempos mais longos na cela, de modo a reagirem em maior extensão e absorverem maior potência do oscilador de rádio-frequência. Essa discriminação de massa precisa ser levada em conta ao interpretar os espectros de ressonância ciclotrônica de íons e, para esclarecer a natureza das correções necessárias, as principais equações que descrevem o movimento dos íons na cela foram deduzidas e discutidas na primeira parte deste trabalho. Tais equações sugerem urna série de experiências, que tornam a espectroscopia de ressonância ciclotrônica de íons uma técnica muito versátil. Estas experiências foram todas apresentadas na primeira parte, devendo-se salientar a experiência de ressonância dupla, que permite identificar de maneira inequívoca o precursor de algum produto iônico, a experiência de ejeção de íons, que permite remover seletivamente um íon de dada espécie da cela, além de experiências que visam a obtenção de constantes de velocidade de reações de íons com moléculas. É justamente esta última grandeza mencionada, a saber, a constante de velocidade de uma reação, a que pode ser com parada com valores calculados a partir de modelos teóricos. Esses modelos baseiam-se em sua maioria na interação do íon, considerado como carga puntiforme, com a molécula neutra de certa polarizabilidade e momento dipolar (modelo de polarização) ou, na fragmentação de um complexo intermediário (modelos estatísticos). Os aspectos teóricos das reações entre íons e moléculas em fase gasosa foram analisados e os modelos mencionados, discutidos, além de modelos chamados \"diretos\" mais apropriados para comparações com resultados de experiências de feixes iônicos. A espectroscopia de ressonância ciclotrônica de íons foi utilizada para o estudo de reações de acilação em cetonas, reações bastante gerais (foi verificado que ocorrem também em outros sistemas carbonílicos) e que podem ser representadas pela equação RCOR\'+ + RCOR\' &#8594; RCO+ (RCOR\') + R\'. Estudos de variação das correntes iônicas relativas de todos os íons das cetonas, em função da pressão de cetona neutra, possibitaram a dedução de um mecanismo de formação desses íons acilados. Os resultados estão de acordo com um esquema no qual esse produto é formado pela fragmentação de um dímero intermediário, para o qual se supõe existirem condições de estado estacionário. Esta fragmentação se dá de maneira análoga à fragmentação dos íons moleculares de cetonas em espectroscopia de massa usual, tratando-se então de uma fragmentação induzida por uma espécie neutra. A pressões elevadas, nas quais o dímero pode sofrer colisões não-reativas e relaxar o excesso de energia interna, o mesmo é estabilizado, fornecendo um pico no espectro. Cetonas de polarizabilidade maior têm uma afinidade maior para o grupo acila; isto foi concluído, quando foram observadas reações de transferência de grupos acila, como por exemplo a transferência de CH3CO+ da cetona para a butanona num sistema formado pela mistura dessas duas cetonas. Estudos de basicidade relativa de álcoois, ácidos, ésteres e cetonas revelaram que há uma relação de proporcionalidade entre a basicidade desses compostos e seu potencial de ionização. Isto havia sido mostrado anteriormente para o caso das aminas, por outros pesquisadores. O conhecimento da basicidade de álcoois, ácidos e ésteres permitiu analisar reações de esterificação e transesterificação sob o ponto de vista termoquímico. Trata-se de reações entre moléculas protonadas das espécies mencionadas, que podem ser consideradas análogas às reações catalisadas por ácidos em solução. O fato de uma reação ser exotérmica não significa que ela ocorra. Assim, foi observado que ácido fórmico não é esterificado por metanol ou etanol nas condições reinantes numa cela de ressonância ciclotrônica de íons, enquanto quê ácido acético o é. A ordem relativa de basicidades em fase gasosa foi determinada como sendo HCOOH < ( CH30H < C2H5OH < CH3COOH. Dessa maneira os resultados estão de acordo com um ataque nucleófilo por parte do álcool no ácido protonado; porém, se este é menos básico que o álcool, ocorre a transferência de próton e não a esterificação. Reações de transesterificação não foram observadas de maneira alguma, mas uma outra reação entre ésteres e álcoois foi encontrada e que pode ser exemplificada pela equação (CH3)2CHOH2+ + HCOOC3H7 &#8594; HCO2(C3H7) (C3H7)+ + H2O. Esta reação só se dá com álcoois capazes de produzir íons de carbônio mais estáveis que os primários; portanto metanol e etanol não reagem. O produto formado pode fragmentar novamente O que revelou que o grupo alquila proveniente do álcool retém um excesso de energia na sua ligação, pois na decomposição é esta a ligação que rompe. Em todos estes estudos, isto é, nos de acilação de cetonas e de esterificação, bem como nos estudos de basicidade, foi sempre salientada a importância de examinar essas reações em fase gasosa, pelo fato de serem reações mais simples, uma vez que se dão na ausência de solventes e portanto revelarem propriedades intrínsecas das espécies envolvidas. Finalmente foram descritas algumas modificações realizadas no espectrômetro de ressonância ciclotrônica de íons, para poder operá-lo de forma pulsada. Com isso é possível manter os íons por tempos maiores na cela (500 ms) e, o que é mais importante, esses tempos podem ser definidos com grande precisão, o que torna viável a obtenção de resultados quantitativos (constantes de velocidade de reação) melhores. / Ions can be trapped for times as long as 10 ms by the combined action of magnetic and electric fields in the cell of an ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer. Despite the low operating pressure (10-7 - 10-4 Torr), the ions experience many collisions during this time, some of which may be reactive, leading to product ions. The ion cyclotron resonance spectrum thus displays a series of peaks corresponding to the various primary, secondary, and eventually tertiary ions; the peak heights, after suitable mass correction, yield ion currents. The double resonance technique allows one to establish unambiguously the precursor ions of a given product ion, by accelerating the suspected reagent ions and examining the effect on the product ion. Ions can also be selectively ejected from the cell. These techniques, which were described in this thesis after an outline of the basic principles of ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy, allow, one to unravel the gaseous ion chemistry in any chemical system. Rate constants of ion-molecule reactions can be determined by ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy. The necessary equations, based on the equations relating measured peak intensities to ion currents, were derived and their limitations, as well as those of the experimental procedures for obtaining the input parameters for the expressions, were discussed. Rate constants can also be calculated theoretically and there are a few microscopic models which treat the collision of an ion with a polarizable neutral molecule (polarization model) or the unimolecular fragmentation of an intermediate complex (statistical models). Direct models, although more suitable for comparison with results from beam experiments, were presented together with the above mentioned models, and their importance for the interpretation of the basic aspects of ion-molecule chemistry was discussed. The ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer was used to study an acylation reaction in ketones, which seems to be general for carbonyl compounds. RCOR\'+ + RCOR\' &#8594; RCO+ (RCOR\') + R\'. Pressure plots of the ion currents in ketones allowed us to propose a mechanism according to which the acylated ketones are formed by the fragmentation of an excited dimer ion, in a fashion analogous to the fragmentation of ketone parent ions in ordinary mass spectroscopy. Steady state conditions prevail for the excited dimer, which can be stabilized at pressures high enough for the ion to collide with a neutral in a time short compared to his life time, thus relaxing excess energy. The acyl group can be transferred from a ketone of lower polarizability to one of higher polarizability; thus CH3CO+ is for instance transferred from acetone to butanone in a mixture of these two compounds, as detected by double resonance. Relative proton affinities of alcohols, acids, esters, and ketones were determined and the results are in agreement with the assumption of constant hydrogen affinity within a homologous series, as has been shown previously for the case of amines by others. Of particular interest is the following order of proton affinities: HCOOH < ( CH30H < C2H5OH < CH3COOH. The positive ion spectra of mixtures of acetic acid with methanol or ethanol revealed that this acid reacts with the alcohols yielding a protonated ester, in a process apparently analogous to the acid catalized esterification in solution. On the other hand,formic acid was found not to behave in this way, although the reactions are all exothermic. These results could be rationalized assuming that a nucleophilic attack takes place on the protonated acid by the alcohol. If the alcohol is more basic, only proton transfer is observed. Transesterification reactions were not detected, but this failure was compensated by a reaction which all higher alcohols, namely those capable of producing a secondary or tertiary carbonium ion, undergo with the esters. This reaction can be exemplified by (CH3)2CHOH2+ + HCOOC3H7 &#8594; HCO2(C3H7) (C3H7)+ + H2O. Although in this particular reaction both alkyl groups seem equivalent, they are not so with respect to internal vibrational energy; this was demonstrated by the decomposition reactions which the ionic products like the one in the reaction above undergo: the alkyl group originally in the alcohol is always eliminated. All the reactions mentioned above, namely, acylation of ketones, proton transfer, and esterification, show the importance of ion-molecule reaction studies in the gas phase, where the intrinsic properties of the reacting species can be examined, free from solvation effects. This point has been repeatedly stressed. In a last chapter in this thesis the necessary modifications of the ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer, in order to operate it in a pulsed mode, were described. With this kind of operation a bunch of ions is formed by a pulse of the electron beam and the ions react for a known period of time, after which they are removed from the cell. Kinetic studies can be more easily carried out in this way than in the conventional one. Some preliminary results were shown.

Cette thèse décrit le développement de nouvelles réactions dans le cadre de la chimie radicalaire par transfert de xanthate développée au laboratoire. Nous nous sommes tout particulièrement intéressés à apporter des solutions à l’alkylation formelle de cétones par voie radicalaire. Dans ce cadre, une alkylation bidirectionnelle de cétones non symétriques a été développée à partir de dixanthates. Reposant sur les différences de stabilité des radicaux présents dans le milieu, cette réaction a permis la synthèse de nombreuses cétones formellement dialkylées à partir d’oléfines non activées. La puissance de cette technologie a également été éprouvée dans le cadre de l’alkylation formelle des gem˗α˗dichlorocétones, composés très sensibles aux conditions basiques. Les conditions douces et neutres de réaction ont permis de préparer de nombreux dérivés et d’étudier plus en détails leur réactivité vis-à-vis du réarrangement de Favorskii. Dans un troisième temps, une réaction de vinylation radicalaire a été appliquée à la synthèse de cétones trifluorométhylées. Enfin, le développement de nouvelles réactions à partir des adduits radicalaires est envisagé. / This manuscript is dedicated to the development of new reactions based on xanthate radical transfer reaction, which has been developed in our laboratory. In particular, we were particularly interested in its application to the formal alkylation of ketones. Within this project, we studied a bidirectional alkylation of non-symmetrical ketones from dixanthates derivatives. Based on the difference of stability of the radicals involved in the reaction, this strategy allowed the preparation of various formally dialkylated ketones from unactivated alkenes. This powerful strategy was also applied to the formal alkylation of the highly base˗sensitive gem˗α˗dichloroketones. The mild and neutral conditions employed for the radical addition allowed the preparation of various derivatives. Their reactivities towards a Favorskii rearrangement were as well studied. The scope of a radical vinylation reaction was also extended to the synthesis of various trifluoromethylated ketones and enones. Finally, the development of new reactions from the radical adduct was envisaged.