Stilbene containing polymers are a group of interesting and versatile polymers. The pendent phenyl ring along the polymer backbone can impart unusual rigidity to the polymer backbone due to steric repulsion. By functionalizing stilbene, a variety of functional groups and ionic groups can be precisely placed along the polymer chain with tunable charge density. Therefore, stilbene containing polymers are potentially rod-like polyelectrolytes with controllable charges and charge density. They are the basis of a novel group of rigid synthetic polyelectrolytes and can be used for furthering our knowledge of rigid polyelectrolytes. A novel series of methyl substituted stilbenes were synthesized and copolymerized with maleic anhydride. A conversion-time study was undertaken to understand the methyl substituent effect on copolymerization rates. Methyl substituted stilbene-maleic anhydride copolymer compositions were determined by quantitative ¹³C 1D NMR. SEC measurements showed the weight average molecular weights of these copolymers vary from 3 000 to over 1 000 000 g/mol. No glass transition temperature or crystalline melting temperature was observed between 0 °C and 250 °C by DSC. TGA showed that these polymers have 5% weight loss around 290 °C. Precursors to a polycation and a polyanion based on functionalized stilbenes and maleimides have been prepared: poly(di-t-butyl-(E)-4,4′-stilbenedicarboxylate-co- N-(4-(t-butoxycarbonyl)phenyl)maleimide) and poly(N,N,Nâ ,Nâ -tetraalkyl-4,4′-di- aminostilbenes-co-N-4-(N′,N′-dimethylaminophenyl)-maleimide). These copolymer precursors were characterized by ¹H NMR, SEC, TGA, and DSC. The ¹H NMR spectrum indicated the rigidity of copolymer backbones. SEC measurements showed the weight average molecular weights of these copolymers vary from 5 000 to 11 700 g/mol. No glass transition temperature or crystalline melting temperature was observed between 0 °C and 175 °C by DSC for poly(di-t-butyl-(E)-4,4′-stilbenedicarboxylate-co-N-(4-(t-butoxy- carbonyl)phenyl)maleimide). TGA showed that this polymer has 5% weight loss around 210 °C and 26% weight loss on the first stage of decomposition which corresponds to elimination of t-butyl functional group in the copolymer. The homopolymerization of EMS-III via free radical polymerization, anionic polymerization and cationic polymerization was attempted. However, no polymer was obtained from any of these polymerization methods. In anionic polymerization, the solution changed to red upon the addition of the initiator sec-bu-Li, indicating the successful addition of the sec-bu-Li to EMS-III. However, the initiated monomer did not propagate to form homopolymer. / Master of Science

The thesis has been divided in two chapters: Chapter I describes the preparation of primary-amine monocarbamates from enantiopure trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamines and their use as chiral organocatalysts in the enantioselective Michael addition reaction of aldehydes and ketones to maleimides, to synthesize enantiomerically enriched substituted succinimides. In the conjugate addition reaction of aldehydes to maleimides in conventional volatile organic solvents, it has been found that these organocatalysts are able to generate both enantiomers of the corresponding succinimide using only one enantiomeric form of the catalyst, just by changing the polarity of the solvent. Theoretical calculations justify the mechanism through which this inversion of enantioinduction occurred. In addition, these organocatalysts were used in the enantioselective Michael addition reaction of aldehydes to maleimides, using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) as recyclable and environmentally sustainable reaction medium, yielding the corresponding succinimides with excellent yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 94%). The succinimides can be extracted from the DES, which retains the chiral organocatalyst, allowing to reuse both solvent and catalyst. Moreover, the conjugate addition of ketones to maleimides using conventional solvents, allows obtaining the corresponding succinimides with excellent yields but with moderate enantioselectivities (up to 66%). Chapter II shows the results obtained in the enantioselective Michael addition reaction of aldehydes and ketones to nitroalkenes, using the former trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine-derived aminocarbamates as chiral organocatalysts, obtaining enantioenriched γ-nitrocarbonyl compounds. In the conjugate addition of isobutyraldehyde to nitroalkenes, the corresponding γ-nitroaldehydes were obtained with enantioselectivities up to 84%. In addition, the enantioselective conjugate addition reaction of ketones to nitroalkenes allowed to obtain interesting γ-nitroketones with high enantioselectivities (up to 96%). Theoretical calculations justify the mechanism involved during this enantioselective process.

Basé sur les concepts de développement durable et de chimie verte, l’une des alternatives envisagées par les chimistes, pour une chimie plus propre, est de substituer les solvants organiques, pouvant être dangereux et toxiques, par des solvants plus verts. L’eau est un bon candidat pour cette substitution car c’est le solvant le moins cher dans nos contrées, et le plus sûr : il est non-toxique, ininflammable et non explosif. Afin de palier la faible solubilité de la majeure partie des composés organiques dans l’eau, les tensioactifs peuven têtre utilisés afin d’améliorer les rendements réactionnels. Les milieux ainsi obtenus sont difficilement recyclables car ils nécessitent une forte dilution afin de casser les agrégats et de récupérer les produits. C’est pourquoi, l’utilisation de tensioactifs photo-régulables est une bonne alternative car il est possible d’organiser/désorganiser les agrégats par irradiation lumineuse et ainsi récupérer les composés organiques en fin de réaction tout en recyclant le milieu réactionnel. Pour cela, nous avons synthétisé trois tensioactifs possédant une fonction azobenzène(anionique, cationique, non ionique), afin de les tester en catalyse micellaire. Certains de ces tensioactifs, après en avoir déterminé leurs propriétés physico-chimiques (cmc et spectre UV-Visible) ont été testés dans une réaction pallado-catalysée : la substitution allylique de Tsuji-Trost. Nous avons réussi à démontrer l’intérêt d’utiliser un tensioactif photo-régulable par rapport aux tensioactifs commerciaux en terme de rendement et de recyclabilité. D’autre part, la décarboxylation de Barton, décrite pour la première fois en 1983, permet la formation d’alcanes à partir d’acides carboxyliques en utilisant un dérivé d’étain comme donneur d’hydrogène. Depuis lors, cette réaction a toujours été utilisée comme étape clé en synthèse totale de composés naturels et en solvants organiques. De plus, cette réaction est historiquement réalisée par activation conventionnelle, thermique ou par irradiation ultra-violette. C’est pourquoi, nous avons décidé d’étudier cette décarboxylation radicalaire dans l’eau, en présence de tensioactifs et en utilisant des modes d’activation non conventionnels : les micro-ondes et les ultrasons. De plus, en lieu et place d’étain, nous avons préféré l’utilisation de N-phénylmaléimide, déjà connu et étudié comme piège à radicaux, afin d’obtenir des maléimides substitués par des chaînes carbonées. Les rendements obtenus en milieux micellaires se sont avérés être aussi bons, voire meilleurs qu’en solvants organiques. / Based on concepts of sustainable development and green chemistry, one of the alternatives envisioned by chemists is to substitute organic solvents, which can be dangerous and toxic, for greener solvents. Water is the best candidate for this substitution because it is thesafest and cheapest solvent in our countries : this solvent is non-toxic, non-flammable and inexplosive. In order to overcome the low solubility of most of organic compounds in water, surfactants can be used to improve the reaction yields. Media thus obtained are difficult to recycle because they require high dilution in order to break aggregates and recover products. Therefore, using photo-switchable surfactants is a good alternative because they can organize/disorganize by light irradiation. Organic compounds could be recovered after reactions and the recyclability of the medium can be improved. For this purpose, we synthesized three surfactants having an azobenzene moiety (anionic,cationic, nonionic), to test them in micellar catalysis. Some of these surfactants, after determining their physicochemical properties (CMCs and UV-visible spectra) were studied in a pallado-catalyzed reaction, the allylic substitution of Tsuji-Trost. We have successfully demonstrated the value of using a photo-switchable surfactant compared to commercialones in terms of yields and recyclability. In other hand, Barton decarboxylation, described for the first time in 1983, permits the formation of alkanes from carboxylic acids, using tin derivatives as hydrogen donors. Since then, this reaction has always been used as a key step in total synthesis of natural compounds in organic solvents. In addition, historically, this reaction was carried out by conventional activation (heat or ultraviolet light). Therefore, we decided to study this radical decarboxylation in water, in the presence of surfactants and using unconventional activation modes : microwave and ultrasound. Moreover, instead of tin, we preferred the use of N-phenylmaleimide, already known and studied as a radical trap, to obtain maleimides substituted by carbon chains. Yields obtained in micellar media were found tobe at least as good as in organic solvents.

The thesis entitled “Controlling Stereochemistry at the Quaternary Center Using Bifunctional (Thio)urea Catalysis” is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1: Catalytic Enantioselective Construction of Quaternary Stereocenters through Direct Vinylogous Michael Addition of Deconjugated Butenolides to Nitroolefins The direct use of deconjugated butenolides in asymmetric C–C bond forming reaction is a powerful but challenging task because of the additional problem of regioselectivity along with the issues of diastereo- and enantioselectivity. In this chapter, a direct asymmetric vinylogous Michael addition of deconjugated butenolides to nitroolefins has been demonstrated for the construction of quaternary stereocenter at the γ-position of butenolides. A novel thiourea-based bifunctional organocatalyst, containing two elements of chirality, was synthesized starting from commercially available quinine and (S)-tert-leucine. Remarkably, the sense of stereoinduction in this process is dominated by the tert-leucine segment of the catalyst. Synthetically versatile & highly functionalized γ-butenolides with contiguous quaternary and tertiary stereocenters were synthesized stereoselectively. The reaction was found to be general and a wide range of nitroolefins, with both electron-rich and electron-deficient substituents, underwent smooth reaction under these mild conditions. Similarly, deconjugated butenolides, having various substituents at the γ-position were well tolerated under these reaction conditions and the products were obtained in excellent yields and with uniformly high diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Reference: Manna, M. S.; Kumar, V.; Mukherjee, S. Chem. Commun. 2012, 48, 5193–5195. Chapter 2: Catalytic Asymmetric Direct Vinylogous Michael Addition of Deconjugated Butenolides to Maleimides for the Construction of Quaternary Stereogenic Center In this chapter, a mild and operationally simple protocol for the direct vinylogous Michael addition of deconjugated butenolides to maleimides has been illustrated. Using bifunctional tertiary amino thiourea organocatalyst, derived from a ‘matched’ combination of trans-(1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) and (S)-tert-leucine, the Michael adducts were obtained in excellent yields and with good to high diastereoselectivities and outstanding enantioselectivities. Application of the corresponding diastereomeric catalyst indicated the dominance of the ‘DACH’ unit over the chiral side chain in determining the sense of stereoinduction. The practicality of this protocol is illustrated by substantial low catalyst loading (down to 5 mol%) and one-pot catalyst recycling. Based on the X-ray structure of the catalyst and observed stereochemistry of the Michael adduct, a stereochemical model is proposed which was further supported by additional experiment. Reference: Manna, M. S.; Mukherjee, S. Chem.–Eur. J. 2012, 18, 15277–15282. Chapter 3: Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Cyclopentenedione through Direct Catalytic Vinylogous Michael Addition of Deconjugated Butenolides Five-membered carbocycles containing one or more stereogenic centers on the ring are privileged structural motifs found in many biologically active natural and non-natural compounds. Among various methods for accessing these enantioenriched carbocyclic frameworks, desymmetrization of prochiral or meso-compounds through catalytic enantioselective transformations represents a powerful strategy. The biggest advantage of such asymmetric desymmetrization reactions lies in their ability in controlling stereochemistry remote from the reaction site. This chapter deals with a highly efficient desymmetrization protocol for 2,2-disubstituted cyclopentene-1,3-diones via direct vinylogous nucleophilic addition of deconjugated butenolides with the help of a tertiary amino thiourea bifunctional catalyst. In contrast to the existing desymmetrization protocols, this method represents a unique example where quaternary stereocenter is generated not only within the ring but also outside the cyclopentane ring. Densely functionalized products are obtained in excellent yields and with outstanding diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The robustness screening indicated that the reaction is highly tolerant to a variety of competing electrophiles and nucleophiles. The remarkable influence of the secondary catalyst site on the enantioselectivity points towards an intriguing mechanistic scenario. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such an effect is observed in the context of asymmetric catalysis. Reference: (1) Manna, M. S.; Mukherjee, S. Chem. Sci. 2014, 5, 1627–1633. (2) Manna, M. S.; Mukherjee, S. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2015, 13, 18–24. (Perspective) Chapter 4: Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Cyclopentenediones through Organocatalytic C(sp2)–H Alkylation Organic compounds are characterized by the presence of various C–H bonds. Functionalization of a specific C–H bond in a molecule with a selected atom or group are among the most straightforward and desirable synthetic transformations in organic chemistry. In this chapter, a simple protocol for the direct alkylation of olefinic C(sp2)–H bond has been developed, not only enantioselectively using an organocatalyst but more importantly without using any directing group. This alkylative desymmetrization of prochiral 2,2-disubstituted cyclopentene-1,3-diones is catalyzed by a dihydroquinine-based bifunctional urea derivative. Using easily accessible, inexpensive and air-stable nitroalkanes as the alkylating agent, this C(sp2)−H alkylation represents a near-ideal desymmetrization and delivers products containing an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center in good to excellent yields and with high enantioselectivities. The mild reaction conditions allow for the introduction of various functionalized alkyl groups. The possibility of a second alkylation and its applications has also been demonstrated. This protocol is the first example of the use of nitroalkane as the alkyl source in an enantioselective transformation. It is expected that, these findings would have broader consequences and applications to other alkylative and related transformations. Reference: Manna, M. S.; Mukherjee, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 130–133. (Highlighted in Synform 2015, 67–70) Chapter 5: Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Cyclopentenediones through Organocatalytic Formal C(sp2)–H Vinylation The development of catalytic enantioselective C(sp2)–H vinylation reactions remained relatively underexplored for a long time because of various challenges associated with it. As C(sp2)–H functionalization reactions do not generate any stereocenter at the reaction site, development of enantioselective C(sp2)−H functionalization must rely on desymmetrization of prochiral or meso-substrates. More important issue is the identification of a suitable directing group which can efficiently control the regioselectivity during the activation of C(sp2)−H bond. In this chapter, an efficient formal C(sp2)−H vinylation of prochiral 2,2-disubstituted cyclopentene-1,3-dione is developed without using any directing group. This formal C(sp2)−H vinylation of 2,2-disubstituted cyclopentene-1,3-dione is realized using a two-step operation: catalytic enantioselective Michael addition of deconjugated butenolides followed by a base mediated decarboxylation. The vinylated products, containing a remote all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center, are obtained in good yields and with good to high enantioselectivities. Synthetic utility of this protocol is demonstrated by converting the resulting chiral electron-deficient diene into various important building blocks. Significant erosion in enantioselectivity during the decarboxylation process was explained by a plausible mechanism, which was further supported by control experiments. Reference: Manna, M. S.; Sarkar, R.; Mukherjee, S. manuscript under preparation.