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The utility of computational study lies not only in rationalizing a chemical phenomenon but also in its predictive value. Broadly, the scope of my research work includes understanding of the structure and bonding of molecules as well as reaction mechanisms using computational techniques. Here I will discuss three research problems where computational results successfully rationalize and predict the experimental outcome. Firstly, we will describe the electronic structure and bonding of all the possible cyclic isomers of B2AlHnm (where n =3D 3 =96 6 and m =3D -2 to 1) = which is isoelectronic to the cyclopropenyl cation.1 A comparative study among all the isomers of homocyclic and heterocyclic three- membered boron and aluminum hydrides has also been done to understand the factors that differentiate their hydride chemistry. We will also discuss about two different approaches to stabilize neutral planar B3R3 rings. In a mechanistic study, we have designed a a priori system which can undergo two competing biradical generating processes, namely the Myers-Saito (MS) and Garratt-Braverman (GB) Cyclizations.2,3 We will present a detailed mechanistic study of both the reactions, which indicates the preference of the GB cyclization over MS cyclization. The theoretical prediction is in agreement with the experimental findings. We will also describe a conformational constraint-based strategy to switch the selectivity from GB to MS/Schmittel pathway.4 In another study, we will talk about a DFT study to illustrate the effect of the a) solvent, b) ancillary ligand, (L) c) leaving group, (Hal) and d) metal (M) on the equilibrium between metal boryl (1) and borylene (2) complexes (Scheme 1).5,6

A highly regio- and diastereoselective approach towards complex 6-membered lactones was developed using allyl/propargyl benzyl ethers and delta keto esters. Crucially, the classical ET reagent SmI2 gave unsatisfactory results and it was necessary to develop and screen new Sm(II) cyclopentadienyl complexes to deliver high selectivity in the transformation. The methodology was extended to a one-pot approach to complex cycloheptanols using SmI2-H2O in a second stage of the process. Samarium(II) folding cascades were developed where simple, linear starting materials are converted to complex polycyclic architectures bearing multiple stereocentres. It was found that, depending on the sidechain in the starting material, it was possible to achieve four different pathways from the common radical intermediate. Crucially, transannular 1,5-HAT from tertiary and benzylic positions was observed to give diverse products. A proposed 1,5-HAT facilitated SmI2-mediated 6-membered lactone radical cyclisations for the first time without an activating proton donor additive. Enantioselective samarium(II) mediated cyclisation cascades were achieved, where simple beta keto esters are converted to complex polycyclic architectures bearing up to five contiguous stereocentres with high diastereo- and enantiocontrol. In the process, a simple and easy to prepare chiral aminodiol was employed which could be recycled after the reaction. Unprecedented, enantioselective transannular radical cascades allowed access to unique 3- dimensional scaffolds inaccessible by other synthetic methods.

The development of the interrupted Nazarov cyclization of allenyl vinyl ketones is presented. The intermediate oxyallyl cation, derived from an allenyl vinyl ketone, may be trapped efficiently by a divergent array of nucleophilic species generating functionalized cyclopent-2-enone products. Allenyl vinyl ketones are also a versatile source of cyclic molecules via a tandem reaction sequence terminated via reaction with acyclic dienes, cyclic dienes, aza-heterocycles, electron-rich alkenes, or styrenes by the formation of an additional ring by a [4 + 3] and/or [3 + 2] cyclization or by the formation of one additional carbon-carbon bond. The bicyclic compounds generated by these processes are densely substituted, and would be difficult to access as succinctly in other ways. The products of these interrupted Nazarov reactions generally reflect excellent regio- and stereoselectivity in the trapping reaction. In some instances, equilibrating conditions were shown to enhance the proportion of one product at the expense of another or to provide a different carbon skeleton. This process appears fairly general, and can be conducted with unsubstituted or alkyl, aromatic, or heteroaromatic allenyl vinyl ketones. The exceptional affinity of allenyl vinyl ketones to undergo interrupted Nazarov reactions is likely a result of the increased longevity of the intermediate oxyallyl cation, due in part to the increased resonance stabilization provided by the allene unit. The high regioselectivity noted in the trapping process was computationally and experimentally confirmed to be a result of a localization of the positive charge in the intermediate oxyallyl cation. The application of this recently developed methodology towards the synthesis of the natural product (+)-roseadione is also described. The tandem Nazarov/[4 + 3] cascade of allenyl vinyl ketones provides a unique manner in which to access the tricyclic core of this cyclooctanoid natural product, a molecule which, to date, has never been synthesized.

Ces travaux de thèse ont permis dans un premier temps, d'aborder différentes voies de synthèse d'un nouvel antipsychotique potentiel (F17464) proposé par les laboratoires Pierre Fabre. Trois stratégies basées sur des synthèses convergentes ont été initiées. La première stratégie repose sur une étape clé de métathèse croisée, la seconde sur une réaction de Sonogashira et la troisième aborde une nouvelle méthodologie d'alkylation des chromones en position 3. Ces méthodes nous ont permis d'accéder à des intermédiaires de synthèse originaux, utiles pour préparer la molécule F17464 en respectant les contraintes industrielles.Dans un deuxième temps, différents types de molécules polycycliques complexes ont été synthétisés par cascades réactionnelles palladocatalysées. Une série de naphtalènes condensés a été préparée par réaction domino palladocatalysée issue de cyclocarbopalladations successives suivies d'une activation C(sp2)-H. Plusieurs types de cycles à sept atomes de carbone condensés ont été synthétisés en une seule étape, à partir de substrats faciles d'accès, via des cascades réactionnelles cyclocarbopalladations/activation C(sp2) ou C(sp3)-H.Finalement, des cyclooctatriènes et des fenestradiènes ont été obtenus à partir du même substrat,en une seule étape, via des réactions en cascade débutant par une cyclocarbopalladation 4-exodigsuivie d'un couplage de Stille puis d'une addition d'alcynes sur une triple liaison s'achevant par des réactions d'électrocyclisations. La température est le seul paramètre réactionnel qui diffère dans la synthèse de ces deux polycycles complexes, à partir du même substrat. / This PhD thesis allowed us in the first part to develop different synthesic pathways to a new potential antipsychotic (F17464) invented by Pierre Fabre laboratories. Three strategies based on convergent syntheses are initiated. The key step of the first strategy is olefin cross metathesis. The second strategy rests on Sonogashira coupling and the third one involves a new methodology ofchromones alkylation in position 3. These methods allowed us access to novel synthetic intermediates, useful in the preparation of the F17464 molecule by following industrial confines.ln the second part, different types of polycyclic molecules were synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cascade reactions. A set of fused naphthalenes was prepared by palladium-catalyzed dominoreaction including cyclocarbopalladations followed by C(sp2)-H bond activation. Several types of fused seven-membered carbocycles were synthesized in a one-pot reaction from convenient substrates, via cascade reactions including cyclocarbopalladations followed by C(sp2 or sp3)-Hbond activation. Finally, cyclooctatrienes and fenestradienes were obtained also in a one-pot reaction from the same substrate via cascade reactions involving 4-exo-dig cyclocarbopalladation, followed by Stille coupling, alkyne addition onto a triple bond, finishing by electrocyclization reactions. Temperature is the only parameter that differs in the synthesis ôf the two complex polycycles starting from the same substrate.

The precise introduction of nonplanar pores in the backbone of graphene nanoribbon represents a great challenge. Here, we explore a synthetic strategy toward the preparation of nonplanar porous graphene nanoribbon from a predesigned dibromohexabenzotetracene monomer bearing four cove-edges. Successive thermal annealing steps of the monomers indicate that the dehalogenative aryl-aryl homocoupling yields a twisted polymer precursor on a gold surface and the subsequent cyclodehydrogenation leads to a defective porous graphene nanoribbon containing nonplanar [14]annulene pores and five-membered rings as characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy and noncontact atomic force microscopy. Although the C–C bonds producing [14] annulene pores are not achieved with high yield, our results provide new synthetic perspectives for the on-surface growth of nonplanar porous graphene nanoribbons.

Préalablement, une synthèse de l’aliskiren, un inhibiteur de la rénine développé pour le traitement de l’hypertension, a été réalisée auprès du groupe Hanessian. Durant cette synthèse, une réaction clé de cyclisation par métathèse, menant à la formation de lactone à neuf membres, a été réalisée. Durant cette réaction, nous avons observé une différence de réactivité entre les diastéréomères, menant à la formation de monolactones et de dilactones, générant ainsi de l’intérêt pour l’étude des facteurs en cause. Le présent mémoire rapporte et détaille les résultats de cette analyse quant à la formation de monomères versus celle de dimères par cyclisation à l’aide de catalyseurs de Grubbs et l’impact de différentes conditions réactionnelles et la diastéréochimie relative sur la réaction. Un intérêt pour la formation de liens benzyliques nous a incité à approfondir notre compréhension d’une méthodologie de substitution nucléophile diastéréosélective catalysée par des acides. Le rationnel mit de l’avant par les groupes Bach et Olah a procuré une compréhension du mécanisme réactionnel sur lequel nous avons basé nos observations subséquentes. Nous avons porté notre attention sur l’alkylation d’arènes, de phénols et de sulfonamides. Diverses régiosélectivités et diastéréosélectivités ont pu être observées en présence de substrats dérivés de la synthèse de l’aliskiren, de nitroalcools ainsi que de azidoalcools en utilisant plusieurs acides de Lewis et de Brønsted. / Previously, a synthesis of aliskiren, a renin inhibitor developed for the treatment of hypertension, was developed in the Hanessian group. As part of that synthesis, they used a ring-closing metathesis which led to the formation of a nine-membered lactone, a key intermediate of the synthesis. During the reaction, we observed a difference in reactivity between the various diastereoisomers leading to the formation of mono- and dilactones, inciting us to study the various factors involved. The present master’s thesis reports and details the results of the study of monomers versus dimers formation by cyclization using Grubbs’s catalysts and the effect of various reaction conditions and relative configuration on the reaction. An interest for the formation of benzylic bonds drove us to deepen our comprehension of a methodology of diastereselective nucleophilic substitution catalysed by acids. The rational brought forth by the Bach and Olah groups served as a basis for our understanding of the mechanism involved upon which we based our following observations. We focused our attention on the alkylation of arenes, phenols and sulfonamides. Various regioselectivities and diastereoselectivities were observed on substrates derived from the aliskiren’s synthesis, nitroaocohols and azidoalcohols while using various Lewis and Brønsted acids.

Une nouvelle approche pour la synthèse de l’aliskiren, un puissant inhibiteur de la rénine pour le traitement de l’hypertension chez l’homme, a été développée. De cette approche, des étapes clés tels qu’une allylation avec un des catalyseurs de MacMillan, une cyclisation par métathèse (RCM) pour la préparation d’une lactone à neuf membres et une séquence de réactions d’aziridination diastéréosélective/réarrangement de cycle par une catalyse acide donnant un produit aminohydroxylé ont permis de compléter la synthèse de l’aliskiren en 11 étapes. Durant l’élaboration de la séquence de réactions pour la préparation de l’aliksiren, il a été noté que la lactone à neuf membres avait une facilité à se réarranger via des intermédiaires quinonoïdaux et les produits issus de cette tendance ont été analysés. De plus, une étude sur la réaction de RCM, donnant la lactone à neuf membres, a montré une dépendance envers la nature diastéréomérique du substrat de départ. Une méthodologie d’alpha-allylation asymétrique de cétones catalysée au palladium, tirant avantage d’un ligand chiral PHOX, a été explorée et utilisée en vue de la synthèse de l’aliskiren. De cette méthode, une étude pour la synthèse de produits alpha-allylcétones acycliques a été démontrée et un effet d’additif sur la sélectivité et la vitesse de réaction a été découvert. De plus, la production d’un intermédiaire avancé d’un produit d’intérêts a été accomplie et la nature de la contribution de l’additif a été investiguée. Les produits obtenus depuis la méthodologie d’allylation catalysée au palladium et la formation d’intermédiaire cationique des certains dérivés de la synthèse de l’aliskiren ont inspirés une nouvelle approche faisant appel à des techniques d’alkylation en catalyse acide pour la formation de produits diaryliques. Il a été trouvé que le catalyseur de chlorure d’or(III) et de triflate de bismuth(III) étaient particulièrement efficaces, démontrant une différence de cinétique pour la réactivité d’un mélange diastéréoisomériques d’alcools alpha-substitués de départ. / A new synthetic route toward aliskiren, a potent renin inhibitor for the treatment of hypertension in man, was achieved. In this approach, the use of key steps such as an asymmetric allylation catalyzed by one of MacMillan’s catalysts, a ring closing metathesis for the formation of a 9-membered lactone and a catalytic aziridination/diastereoselective acid-catalyzed ring rearrangement reaction sequence leading to an aminohydroxylated product permitted us to achieve an 11-step synthesis of aliskiren. While elaborating the sequence towards the inhibitor, the tendency of the cyclic intermediate to rearrange through a quinonoid intermediate was observed. The products of the rearrangement were analyzed. Furthermore, studies exploring the formation of the nine-membered ring lactone demonstrated a dependency on the diastereomeric nature of the substrates. A new allylation methodology was explored for the preparation of aliskiren, in which a palladium catalyzed decarboxylative asymmetric alkylation took place in the presence of a chiral PHOX ligand. The scope of the reaction was studied varying substituents on acyclic alpha-allylketones and an additive effect was noticed with respect of the reaction rate and selectivity. In addition to the preparation of molecules with pharmaceutical interest, few experiments to elucidate the role of the additive in the allylation reaction were investigated. Inspired by our observation of quinonoid formation and our use of the palladium asymmetric allylation method to generate an alpha-stereogenic center, we anticipated that a diastereoselective synthesis of a key intermediate for the synthesis of aliskiren could be accomplished by introducing a nucleophile on a quinonoid intermediate from the least hindered face, under catalytic and acidic conditions. Gold(III) chloride and bismuth(III) triflate were found to be especially efficient as catalysts, showing kinetically controlled differentiation in the reactivity of diastereomeric alpha-substituted benzyl alcohols.