No presente trabalho foram estudados os espectros de RPE de um radical nitróxido, 4-hidroxi-2,2,6,6-tetrametilpiperidina-l-oxil (TEMPOL, 11), introduzido como impureza em uma matriz diamagnética, 4-hidroxi-2,2,6,6-tetrametilpiperidina (I), de estrutura conhecida. O uso do radical deuterado, 4-hidroxi-2,2,6,6 -tetrametilpiperidina-d17-l-oxil (PD-TEMPOL, 111) mostrou um aumento considerável na resolução dos espectros para a maioria das orientações do campo magnético. A interação do grupo paramagnético N-O com os prótons vizinhos foram estudadas e os tensores superhiperfinos de dois prótons fortemente acoplados foram determinados. Um desses prótons forma ponte de hidrogênio com o grupo N-O e a distância estimada é 2,09ª&#176. Os autovalores do tensor são: -5,2; 5,4 e -5,1 gauss. O segundo próton está mais distanciado do radical e provavelmente não forma ponte com o radical. Os valores nas direções principais são: 2,0; -1,7;e -2,7 gauss. Com a finalidade de estudar o envolvimento dos prótons na relação eletrônica dos radicais foram estimados os tempos de relaxação T1 e T2 no intervalo de temperatura de -160 a 25&#176C através do método de saturação continua. Foram obtidos os valores em diversas orientações para os radicais protonado (II) e deuterado - (III) para compará-los. Os valores de T2 obtidos são praticamente constante no intervalo de temperatura onde foram medidos e sistematicamente são maiores para o radical deuterado. O tempo de relaxação spin-rede, T1 é dependente da orientação para ambos os radicais. Em geral é obtida urna dependência linear de T1-1 versus T que foi explicada considerando um mecanismo de relaxação por tunelamento dos protons vizinhos entre dois poços de potenciais. Para o radical protonado é observada uma descontinuidade na curva de T1-1 versu T na região de -60&#176C; para o radical deuterado - isto é observado somente para algumas orientações. Este comporta mento poderia ser explicado como devido o congelamento da vibração das pontes de hidrogênio em torno desta temperatura. Um alagamento das linhas de RPE é observado para muitas orientações a partir de -100D&#176C que foi interpretado como devido o congelamento da rotação dos grupos metilas, do radical no caso (II) e da matriz no caso (I) / In the present work the ESR spectra of a nitroxide radical, 4-hydroxi-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-l-oxyl (TANOL, lI), introduced as impurity in a diamagnetic host, 4-hydroxi-2, 2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (1), of know structure, has been investigated. The use of the deuterated radical, 4-hydroxi-2,2, 6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-d17-1-oxyl (PD-TANOL, 111) showed an improved resolution in the ESR spectra for most orientations of the magnetic field. The interactions of protons in the neighbourhood of the paramagnetic group N-O were studied and the superhyperfine tensors for the two strongly compled protons were determined one of these protons is hydrogen bonded to the N-O and the distance is estimated to be 2,09ª&#176. The superhyperfine tensor has principal values -5.2; +5.4; -5.1 gauss. The second proton is further away from the electron and probably is not hydrogen bonded. The principal values for this proton are 2.0; -1.7 and -2,7 gauss. In order to study the involvment of the protons in the electronic relaxation of the radicaIs, the relaxation times T1 and T2 were estimated in the temperature range -160&#176C 25&#176C for many orientations and comparing data for the protonated and deuterated radicaIs II and III, using the continuous wave saturation method. It is shown that the relaxation time T2 is practically constant in the temperature range studied and that it is sistematically greater for the deuterated radical implying narrower lines. The spin-lattice relaxation time TI is dependent upon the orientation of the magnetic field for both radicaIs. In general a linear temperature dependence of T1-1 versus T is obtained and a mechanism of tunelling of protons between close potential walls in used to explain this behavior. In the case of the protonated radical for many orientations of the magnetic field a break is observed in the T1-1 versus T curve around -60&#176C for the deuterated radical this is observed only for fewer orientations. This behaviour could be explained as due to the freezing of hydrogen bonds vibration near this temperature. For many orientations it is also observed that below -100&#176C a broadening of the ESR lines occurs which is probably re1ated to the freezing of the rotations of the methyl groups of the radical, in the case of II, and of the hast I in the case of radical III

This PhD project has expanded the knowledge in the area of profluorescent nitroxides with regard to the synthesis and characterisations of novel profluorescent nitroxide probes as well as physical characterisation of the probe molecules in various polymer/physical environments. The synthesis of the first example of an azaphenalene-based fused aromatic nitroxide TMAO, [1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2,3-dihydro-2-azaphenalen-2-yloxyl, was described. This novel nitroxide possesses some of the structural rigidity of the isoindoline class of nitroxides, as well as some properties akin to TEMPO nitroxides. Additionally, the integral aromatic ring imparts fluorescence that is switched on by radical scavenging reactions of the nitroxide, which makes it a sensitive probe for polymer degradation. In addition to the parent TMAO, 5 other azaphenalene derivatives were successfully synthesised. This new class of nitroxide was expected to have interesting redox properties when the structure was investigated by high-level ab initio molecular orbitals theory. This was expected to have implications with biological relevance as the calculated redox potentials for the azaphenalene ring class would make them potent antioxidant compounds. The redox potentials of 25 cyclic nitroxides from four different structural classes (pyrroline, piperidine, isoindoline and azaphenalene) were determined by cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile. It was shown that potentials related to the one electron processes of the nitroxide were influenced by the type of ring system, ring substituents or groups surrounding the moiety. Favourable comparisons were found between theoretical and experimental potentials for pyrroline, piperidine and isoindoline ring classes. Substitution of these ring classes, were correctly calculated to have a small yet predictable effect on the potentials. The redox potentials of the azaphenalene ring class were underestimated by the calculations in all cases by at least a factor of two. This is believed to be due to another process influencing the redox potentials of the azaphenalene ring class which is not taken into account by the theoretical model. It was also possible to demonstrate the use of both azaphenalene and isoindoline nitroxides as additives for monitoring radical mediated damage that occurs in polypropylene as well as in more commercially relevant polyester resins. Polymer sample doped with nitroxide were exposed to both thermo-and photo-oxidative conditions with all nitroxides showing a protective effect. It was found that isoindoline nitroxides were able to indicate radical formation in polypropylene aged at elevated temperatures via fluorescence build-up. The azaphenalene nitroxide TMAO showed no such build-up of fluorescence. This was believed to be due to the more labile bond between the nitroxide and macromolecule and the protection may occur through a classical Denisov cycle, as is expected for commercially available HAS units. Finally, A new profluorescent dinitroxide, BTMIOA (9,10-bis(1,1,3,3- tetramethylisoindolin-2-yloxyl-5-yl)anthracene), was synthesised and shown to be a powerful probe for detecting changes during the initial stages of thermo-oxidative degradation of polypropylene. This probe, which contains a 9,10-diphenylanthracene core linked to two nitroxides, possesses strongly suppressed fluorescence due to quenching by the two nitroxide groups. This molecule also showed the greatest protective effect on thermo-oxidativly aged polypropylene. Most importantly, BTMIOA was found to be a valuable tool for imaging and mapping free-radical generation in polypropylene using fluorescence microscopy.

Self-assembled monolayers and surface-initiated polymer, or polymer brushes, have attracted attention as they form dense layers with much higher structural order than bulk or solution polymers. Another field of research which has emerged over the last two decades is the field of organic and polymer electronics. In this field molecular order and surface modification are of major influence on the device performance, hence that both self-assembled monolayers as polymer brushes have been investigated to find applications in organic electronic devices. After an introduction into the field self-assembled monolayers, polymer brushes and organic electronics, the first part of this thesis focusses on three applications of surface modification techniques for applications in devices. Alignment of the active material is crucial for high mobilities in organic electronics. Chapter 2 discusses the synthesis of a liquid crystalline surface-initiated polymer and its application to induce strong homeotropic alignment. The alignment is homogeneous over large areas and can be patterned by combining the polymerization with soft lithographic techniques. Mobilities of organic electronic materials can also be strongly influenced by dopants in the material. In field-effect transistors the positioning of the dopant is thought to be crucial, as the conductance predominantly takes place in only a small channel near the dielectric interface. In chapter 3 dopant functionalized monolayers and polymer brushes are presented which enable the localized deposition of dopants in the channel of organic transistors. It is shown that the mobility of charges and hence the device performance is affected by the introduction of this dopant layer. Polymer brushes have been suggested for the fabrication of highly ordered semiconducting polymers. In chapter 4 the use of a thiophene functionalized polymer brush is shown, that can be used as a template for the subsequent growth of highly conjugated surface grafted polythiophene layers. Thick polythiophene layers are obtained, that are low in roughness and show photoluminescence and polychromism upon doping. The second part (chapter 5 and 6) of this thesis presents new techniques for surface polymerizations. It is attractive to investigate reduction of reactor volume for polymer brush growth. Chapter 5 discusses a method to achieve volume reduction by back-filling the superfluous volume with beads. It is found that this influences the polymerization kinetics significantly. The combined advantages of less volume and enhanced reaction speeds enable reduction of the total amount of monomer needed by up to 90%. Chapter 6 presents a controlled way to convert initiators for atom transfer radical polymerization into initiators for nitroxide mediated polymerization. In this way mixed polymer brushes and block co-polymer brushes become accessible. This combination makes it an attractive tool to fabricate complex polymer architectures. The technologies used in this thesis show that the synthesis of polymer brushes enable the fabrication of complex architectures without the wastes normally associated with surface-initiated polymers. Combined with several functionalized polymer brushes with properties that enhance order, influence mobility or serve as template for the growth of surface attached conjugated polymers this shows the high potential for the application of surface-initiated polymers in organic electronics.

No presente trabalho foram estudados os espectros de RPE de um radical nitróxido, 4-hidroxi-2,2,6,6-tetrametilpiperidina-l-oxil (TEMPOL, 11), introduzido como impureza em uma matriz diamagnética, 4-hidroxi-2,2,6,6-tetrametilpiperidina (I), de estrutura conhecida. O uso do radical deuterado, 4-hidroxi-2,2,6,6 -tetrametilpiperidina-d17-l-oxil (PD-TEMPOL, 111) mostrou um aumento considerável na resolução dos espectros para a maioria das orientações do campo magnético. A interação do grupo paramagnético N-O com os prótons vizinhos foram estudadas e os tensores superhiperfinos de dois prótons fortemente acoplados foram determinados. Um desses prótons forma ponte de hidrogênio com o grupo N-O e a distância estimada é 2,09ª&#176. Os autovalores do tensor são: -5,2; 5,4 e -5,1 gauss. O segundo próton está mais distanciado do radical e provavelmente não forma ponte com o radical. Os valores nas direções principais são: 2,0; -1,7;e -2,7 gauss. Com a finalidade de estudar o envolvimento dos prótons na relação eletrônica dos radicais foram estimados os tempos de relaxação T1 e T2 no intervalo de temperatura de -160 a 25&#176C através do método de saturação continua. Foram obtidos os valores em diversas orientações para os radicais protonado (II) e deuterado - (III) para compará-los. Os valores de T2 obtidos são praticamente constante no intervalo de temperatura onde foram medidos e sistematicamente são maiores para o radical deuterado. O tempo de relaxação spin-rede, T1 é dependente da orientação para ambos os radicais. Em geral é obtida urna dependência linear de T1-1 versus T que foi explicada considerando um mecanismo de relaxação por tunelamento dos protons vizinhos entre dois poços de potenciais. Para o radical protonado é observada uma descontinuidade na curva de T1-1 versu T na região de -60&#176C; para o radical deuterado - isto é observado somente para algumas orientações. Este comporta mento poderia ser explicado como devido o congelamento da vibração das pontes de hidrogênio em torno desta temperatura. Um alagamento das linhas de RPE é observado para muitas orientações a partir de -100D&#176C que foi interpretado como devido o congelamento da rotação dos grupos metilas, do radical no caso (II) e da matriz no caso (I) / In the present work the ESR spectra of a nitroxide radical, 4-hydroxi-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-l-oxyl (TANOL, lI), introduced as impurity in a diamagnetic host, 4-hydroxi-2, 2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (1), of know structure, has been investigated. The use of the deuterated radical, 4-hydroxi-2,2, 6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-d17-1-oxyl (PD-TANOL, 111) showed an improved resolution in the ESR spectra for most orientations of the magnetic field. The interactions of protons in the neighbourhood of the paramagnetic group N-O were studied and the superhyperfine tensors for the two strongly compled protons were determined one of these protons is hydrogen bonded to the N-O and the distance is estimated to be 2,09ª&#176. The superhyperfine tensor has principal values -5.2; +5.4; -5.1 gauss. The second proton is further away from the electron and probably is not hydrogen bonded. The principal values for this proton are 2.0; -1.7 and -2,7 gauss. In order to study the involvment of the protons in the electronic relaxation of the radicaIs, the relaxation times T1 and T2 were estimated in the temperature range -160&#176C 25&#176C for many orientations and comparing data for the protonated and deuterated radicaIs II and III, using the continuous wave saturation method. It is shown that the relaxation time T2 is practically constant in the temperature range studied and that it is sistematically greater for the deuterated radical implying narrower lines. The spin-lattice relaxation time TI is dependent upon the orientation of the magnetic field for both radicaIs. In general a linear temperature dependence of T1-1 versus T is obtained and a mechanism of tunelling of protons between close potential walls in used to explain this behavior. In the case of the protonated radical for many orientations of the magnetic field a break is observed in the T1-1 versus T curve around -60&#176C for the deuterated radical this is observed only for fewer orientations. This behaviour could be explained as due to the freezing of hydrogen bonds vibration near this temperature. For many orientations it is also observed that below -100&#176C a broadening of the ESR lines occurs which is probably re1ated to the freezing of the rotations of the methyl groups of the radical, in the case of II, and of the hast I in the case of radical III

Ce travail de thèse s’inscrit dans un contexte industriel. Il consiste en la caractérisation de lots bruts de SG1 : le N-tert-butyl-N- (1-diethylphosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl)-N-oxyle. La spécificité de cette espèce est son caractère radicalaire stable. La première partie de ce travail consistait à développer une méthode d’analyse, facilement applicable en laboratoire d’analyse de contrôle sur site industriel pour la caractérisation de la pureté en SG1 dans des lots synthétisés. La méthode choisie a été développée par chromatographie liquide haute performance (HPLC). Pour ce faire, un étalon de SG1 a été préparé par purification de SG1 brut industriel en utilisant la technique séparative chromatographique de partage centrifuge (CPC). L’identification des impuretés suspectées majoritaires dans les lots de SG1 bruts a ensuite été réalisée par spectroscopie RMN ou par l’étude des fragments obtenus par spectrométrie de masse en tandem par ionisation electrospray. A l’aide de ces techniques, quinze impuretés majori- taires ont été identifiées. Des méthodes de quantification ont ensuite été développées pour douze de ces impuretés par diverses techniques analytiques chromatographiques : par HPLC-UV, HPLC-MS ou GC-MS ou par des techniques spectroscopiques Infra-Rouge ou encore par conductimétrie. / This PhD study has been carried out within an industrial context. It deals with the characterization of industrial batches of N-tert-butyl-N- (1-diethylphosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl)-N-oxyle also called SG1. The distinctive feature of this molecule lies in its specific stability which is uncommon for radical species. The first part of this study consists in developping an analytical method, easy to implement in a QC laboratory for the determination of SG1 purity. The chosen analytical method has been developped by High Performances Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). This method requires the use of a standard sample of SG1, which has been obtained after purification of industrial batches of SG1 by the use of an innovative separative technology, the Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC). The identification of the impurities, suspected as the major impurities in the industrial batches of SG1, has been carried out by NMR spectroscopy or by the study of their fragmentation observed by Tandem Mass Spectrometry – Electrospray Ionization. The use of these techniques enabled the identification of fifteen major impurities. Quantification methods by various techniques (HPLC-UV, HPLC-MS, GC-MS, other direct spectroscopic techniques like Infra-Red or other types of techniques like conductimetry) have been developped for twelve impurities.

Ce travail expose deux stratégies pour le développement de nouveaux agents de contraste pour le diagnostic par IRM rehaussée par l’effet Overhauser.Le premier thème de ce travail est consacré au développement d’une sonde radicalaire, de type nitroxyde, capable de modifier sa signature RPE (Résonance Paramagnétique Electronique) en fonction d’une activité enzymatique. Cette modification, due à un changement conformationnel, a permis une irradiation microonde sélective de la sonde libérée par protéolyse. Cette particularité a pu être appliquée à l’IRM rehaussée par l’effet Overhauser et une amélioration du contraste de l’image de 1200% in vitro a été observée après hydrolyse enzymatique. Du fait de contraintes techniques, une amélioration du contraste de 600% a été obtenue in vivo alors que de nos jours,les agents de contraste les plus courants en clinique, basés sur des complexes de GdIII, améliorent le contraste de l’image d’environ 50 %. Le second thème aborde la synthèse et l’étude physico-chimique d’alcoxyamines, précurseurs de nitroxydes, pour le diagnostic par IRM rehaussée par l’effet Overhauser. Le point clé de cette approche repose sur l’activation de ces molécules afin de libérer rapidement le nitroxyde in situ. Les résultats de monoactivation chimique étant encourageants, la double activation chimique de ces nouvelles alcoxyamines a permis d’abaisser drastiquement le temps de demi-vie de l’une d’entre elles pour obtenir des valeurs compatibles avec des applications en diagnostic. Un pseudo-peptide sélectif de la chymotrypsine a également été greffé,ce qui a permis d’aboutir à une alcoxyamine modèle qui permettra de valider le concept de diagnostic recherché. / This work promotes two strategies for the development of new contrast agents for the diagnosis by Overhauser enhanced MRI. Two approaches have therefore been addressed.The first approach is devoted to the development of a nitroxide-type spin label, which is capable to change its EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) signature upon a non-radical enzymatic activity. This modification, due to a conformational change, allowed us to perform a selective microwave irradiation of the probe released by proteolysis. This feature was applied to Overhauser enhanced MRI and of the image after enzymatic hydrolysis of 1200% in vitro has been obtained. Due to technical hindrances, a contrast enhancement of 600% has been obtained in vivo, while nowadays, the most common clinical contrast agent, based on GdIII complex, improve image contrast around a value of 50%.The second topic deals with the synthesies and the physico-chemical study of alkoxyamines, as nitroxide precursors, for the diagnosis by MRI enhanced by the Overhauser effect. The key point of this approach is based on the activation of these molecules to quickly release the nitroxide in situ. Encouraged by the results of chemical monoactivation, we performed the double chemical activation of these new alkoxyamines to drastically reduce the half-life time of one of them to obtain values compatible with diagnostic applications. A selective pseudo-peptide of chymotrypsin has also been grafted, which allowed us to achieve an alkoxyamine model that will validate our concept of diagnosis.

Au cours des dernières décennies, l'électronique s'est développée de manière à répondre au besoin grandissant de stocker et traiter toujours plus d'information, et elle a évolué de manière incessante vers une miniaturisation extrême. Dans ce contexte, les molécules-aimants, qui sont des entités moléculaires magnétiques, présentent une bistabilité magnétique permettant de stocker l'information dans des unités de la taille d'une molécule. Le principal frein aux applications tient aux basses températures auxquelles ces molécules présentent de telles propriétés (< 15K). Il est donc important de comprendre les mécanismes mis en jeu au sein de ces entités afin d'augmenter les températures de fonctionnement. Un moyen prometteur est de ponter deux ions de lanthanides par un ligand radicalaire. Cette approche a conduit à la conception de la molécule-aimant ayant à ce jour la plus haute température de blocage (14 K). Ce travail de thèse est dédié à la conception et à la caractérisation des structures, ainsi qu'à l'étude des propriétés magnétiques et des relations magnéto-structurales par spectroscopie électronique de molécules aimants et d'aimants à base moléculaires. Ces systèmes sont élaborés à partir d'ions de lanthanides(III) ou de manganèse(II) et de radicaux libres organiques de types nitronyl-nitroxyde. Une attention particulière sera dirigée vers la réalisation de complexes dinucléaires de lanthanides pontés par un ligand radicalaire, et sur l'étude de la brique monomérique. Nous avons exploré la possibilité d'utiliser le radical NITBzImH comme ligand radicalaire pontant des briques moléculaires de type [Ln(β- dicétone)3] et [Ln(NO3)3]. Nous nous sommes intéressés au comportement magnétique inhabituel d'un polymère de coordination de manganèse(II) pontés par les radicaux NITIm, parent de NITBzImH, puis nous avons commencé à nous intéresser à l'effet produit en remplaçant les manganèses(II) par des lanthanides(III) / For the past decades, electronics have been developed in order to meet the increasing need of information storage, always evolving to the constant upgrade of their components: better, faster, smaller. Twenty-five years ago, the recently created field of molecular magnetism allowed designing entities responding to the aforementioned requirements: Single- Molecule-Magnets (SMMs). On the one hand, those are compounds showing magnetic bistability affording to stock information and on the other hand, they are the smallest entities available to design any information support. In spite of those remarkable qualities, they require very low temperature (< 15 K) to display their properties. Thus, it is of primary importance to understand underlying mechanisms in order to increase this temperature range. One promising route is to connect lanthanide dimer by a radical bridge. This method has led to the discovery of a SMM, whose blocking temperature is the highest known to date (14 K). This thesis work has been dedicated to the conception of SMMs and molecular-based magnets, as well as the characterization of their structures and magnetic properties, and their magneto-structural relationships by electronic spectroscopy. Those systems were mostly based on lanthanide(III) or manganese(II) ion and nitronyl-nitroxide organic free radicals. A special focus was made to the synthesis of dinuclear lanthanide complexes bridged by an organic free radical, and to the study of their mononuclear complex. We have studied the potential of NITBzImH radical as a bridge for [Ln(β-diketonate)3] and [Ln(NO3)3] molecular bricks. We also took interest to the unusual magnetic behavior of a manganese(II) coordination polymer, where each metal center is bridged by a NITIm radical, closely related to NITBzImH radical. Finally, we started to explore the changes induced by switching manganese(II) to lanthanide(III)

La construction de nouvelles architectures d'aimant moléculaire basé sur l'approche métal-radical repose sur la conception de nouvelles molécules radicalaires. Dans cette optique, notre stratégie s'est concentrée sur la synthèse de porphyrins incorporant des composés radicaux libres. En effet, les porphyrines sont des composés π conjugués qui devraient favoriser la délocalisation de spin et la transmission des interactions magnétiques sur l'entier macrocycle et de plus sur l'ensemble du composé obtenu. A cause de leur excellente stabilité dans une grande diversité d'environnements chimiques et leur capacité à coordonner avec des métaux de transitions, notre choix s'est porté sur les radicaux nitroxides. Dans cette thèse, une série de porphyrines contenant des tBUNO, nitronyl and imino nitroxide directement liés sur le squelette de la molécule ont été synthétisées. Les macrocycles obtenus ont été caractérisés par UV-Vis, Masse et RPE spectroscopie. De plus, durant ce travail, des intermédiaires réactionnaires intéressant ont été obtenus et caractérisés pour la première fois. Ce fut le cas pour la meso-tetrakis(4-formylphenyl)porphyrin et ses équivalents métallés pa le Cu(II) et le Mn(II). Ainsi que pour quelques précurseurs prometteurs de macrocycle tetrapyrroliques comme 2-(3,4-dicyanophenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-3-oxide-1oxyl, 2-(3,4-dicyanophenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl and 2-(4-benzaldehyde)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl. D'après ce que nous savons, ces composés représentent le premier exemple de porphyrines substituées par des nitronyl et imino nitroxide radical, ayant été caractérisées sans ambiguïté par des méthodes spectroscopiques / The preparation of Molecule-Based Magnets is based on the assembling carriers of magnetic moment. These may be the metal ions only with diamagnetic linkers or the metal ions connected through open-shell organic molecule. The building of novel Molecule-Based Magnets architectures following the metal-radical approach relies on the design of innovative open-shell organic molecular blocks. In this regard, we focus our strategy on the synthesis of porphyrins incorporating free radicals. Indeed, porphyrins compounds are π-conjugated systems which should favor spin delocalization and the transmission of the magnetic interactions on the overall macrocycle and further over the all architecture. Due to their excellent stability in a wide variety of chemical environments, and their abilities to coordinate with transition metal we focus our attention on nitroxide radicals. In this dissertation a series of porpyrin macrocycles were synthesized, bearing tBuNO, nitronyl and imino nitroxide covalently linked to the skeleton. Characterization was done by UV-Vis, Mass and EPR spectroscopy. Moreover during this work some interesting synthetic intermediates were obtained with good yield and characterize for the first time. This was the case for meso-tetrakis(4-formylphenyl)porphyrin and its corresponding metallated derivatives by Cu(II) and Mn(II). Some novel promising tetrapyrrolic macrocycle precursors bearing nitronyl and imino nitroxides free radicals as 2-(3,4- dicyanophenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-3-oxide-1-oxyl, 2-(3,4- dicyanophenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl and 2-(4-benzaldehyde)-4, 4, 5, 5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl. To the best of our knowledge, these compounds represent the first example of nitronyl and imino nitroxide substituted porphyrin derivatives that have been unambiguously characterized by spectroscopic techniques

Ce travail porte sur le développement de sondes peptidiques pour le suivi de la protéolyse par spectroscopie de résonance paramagnétique électronique (RPE) et pour l'imagerie in vivo par résonance magnétique rehaussée de l’effet Overhauser (OMRI). Plus précisément, ce travail étudie pour la première fois une famille d’agents d’imagerie appelée « nitroxyde à déplacement de raies spectrales » spécifique d’activités enzymatiques. L'activité protéolytique, entraînant un décalage de 5 G dans les constantes de couplages hyperfins, permet une quantification individuelle des espèces substrat et produit par RPE et une excitation sélective par OMRI. Trois substrats ont été élaborés, montrant une spécificité enzymatique pour l’élastase du neutrophile (NE) (MeO-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-Nitroxyde & Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-Nitroxyde), et pour la chymotrypsine et la cathepsine G (Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-Nitroxyde). Les constantes enzymatiques ont montré de bonnes valeurs avec globalement, Km = 28 ± 25 µM et kcat = 19 ± 3 s-1. Ex vivo, l’utilisation des substrats NE en OMRI a révélé un contraste élevé dans les lavages broncho-alvéolaires de souris sous stimulus inflammatoire. Les rehaussements de signaux IRM sont en corrélation avec la sévérité de l’inflammation. L'irradiation à la fréquence RPE de 5425,6 MHz a permis d'accéder à la bio-distribution des substrats in vivo et pourrait ainsi servir d’outil diagnostic. Les perspectives à moyen terme de ce travail reposent sur le développement de l’OMRI à très faibles champs magnétiques en vue d’une application chez l’homme. / This work focuses on substrate-based probes for proteolysis monitoring by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy (EPR) and for in vivo imaging by Overhauser-enhanced Magnetic Resonance (OMRI). More precisely, this work investigates for the first time a family of MRI agents named “line-shifting nitroxide” specific for proteolytic activities. Proteolytic action results in a shift of 5 G in EPR hyperfine coupling constants allowing individual quantification of substrate and product species by EPR and selective excitation by OMRI. Three substrates were worked out, showing enzymatic specificity for neutrophil elastase (MeO-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-Nitroxide & Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-Nitroxide), and for Chymotrypsin/Cathepsin G (Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-Nitroxide). Enzymatic constants were remarkably good with globally Km = 28 ± 25 µM and kcat = 19 ± 3 s-1. Ex vivo, the use of NE substrates in OMRI revealed a high contrast in bronchoalveolar lavages of mice under inflammatory stimulus. MRI signal enhancements correlate with the severity of inflammation. Irradiation at the RPE frequency of 5425.6 MHz provided access to the bio-distribution of substrates in vivo and could thus serve as a diagnostic tool. The medium-term perspectives of this work are based on the development of OMRI with very low magnetic fields for human application

Une méthodologie générale et efficace pour la synthèse de nanoparticules de prodrogues polymères hétérotéléchéliques à hauts taux de charge a été mise au point en combinant d’une part la méthode dite du “principe actif amorceur” pour obtenir des prodrogues polymères α-fonctionnelles par polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée par les nitroxydes (NMP), et d’autre part la réaction d'échange de nitroxyde à partir d’un nitroxyde fonctionnel pour coupler une seconde molécule d'intérêt en bout de chaîne. Une petite bibliothèque de prodrogues polymères hétérotéléchéliques avec différentes combinaisons pour diverses applications (e.g., libération de principes actifs, imagerie/théranostic, thérapie combinée, ciblage actif) a été synthétisée en utilisant le polyisoprène (PI) comme polymère.En particulier, une alcoxyamine basée sur le nitroxyde SG1 a été fonctionnalisée avec la première molécule d’intérêt et utilisée pour polymériser l'isoprène par NMP et donner la prodrogue polymère désirée. En appliquant ensuite la réaction d'échange de nitroxyde à partir du nitroxyde TEMPO fonctionnalisé avec la seconde molécule d’intérêt, le nitroxyde SG1 en bout de chaîne a été quantitativement remplacé par le TEMPO fonctionnel pour donner la prodrogues hétérobifonctionnelle. Cette approche générale a été appliquée aux combinaisons suivantes : (i) gemcitabine (Gem)/rhodamine (Rho) et Gem/cyanine pour la libération de principes actifs et l’imagerie; (ii) aminoglutethimide (Agm)/doxorubicine (Dox), Gem/Dox and Gem/Lapatinib (Lap) pour la thérapie combinée et (iii) Gem/biotine pour la libération de principes actifs et le ciblage actif in vitro et in vivo. Les propriétés d’imagerie des nanoparticules de prodrogues polymères comportant une molecule fluorescente ont été étudiées in vitro et in vivo, respectivement en termes d’internalisation intracellulaire et de biodistribution. Pour les thérapies combinées, la cytotoxicité in vitro des différentes nanoparticules a été étudiée et comparée à celle émanant d’autres strategies de délivrance de deux principes actifs (e.g., conanoprécipitation, mélange physique de nanoparticules).Enfin, des prodrogues polymères hétérobifonctionnelles comprenant l’adénosine en début de chaîne et un motif maléimide en fin de chaine ont été préparées et fonctionnalisées en surface par des protéines capables de promouvoir le passage des nanoparticules à travers la barrière hémato-encéphalique pour libérer l’adénosine au niveau du cerveau. / A facile and versatile synthetic platform to prepare high drug loading, heterobifunctional polymer prodrug nanoparticles was developed by combining the “drug-initiated” method to obtain α-functional polymer prodrugs by nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP), and the nitroxide exchange reaction from a functional nitroxide to attach a second molecule of interest at the ω chain-end. A library of heterotelechelic polymers prodrugs with different combinations for various purposes (e.g., drug delivery, imaging/theranostic, combination therapy, active targeting) was prepared using polyisoprene (PI) as polymer scaffold. More specifically, an alkoxyamine based on the SG1 nitroxide was functionalized with the first drug of interest and used to perform the NMP of isoprene to yield the desired polymer prodrug. Subsequently, by applying the nitroxide exchange reaction using a TEMPO nitroxide functionalized with the second molecule of interest, the SG1 nitroxide at the chain-end was quantitatively replaced by the functional TEMPO and the desired heterobifunctional polymer prodrug was formed. This general methodology was applied to the following combinations: (i) gemcitabine (Gem)/rhodamine (Rho) and Gem/cyanine for drug delivery and imaging; (ii) aminoglutethimide (Agm)/doxorubicin (Dox), Gem/Dox and Gem/Lapatinib (Lap) for combination therapy and (iii) Gem/biotin for drug delivery and active targeting in vitro and in vivo. For polymer prodrug nanoparticles bearing fluorescent dyes, in vitro and in vivo imaging studies were performed to investigate their cellular internalization and their biodistribution, respectively. As for the different combination therapies, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles was determined and compared to that of other strategies to deliver two different drugs (e.g., conanoprecipitation, physical mixture of nanoparticles).Finally, heterobifunctional polymer prodrugs bearing adenosine in alfa position and a maleimide moiety in omega position were synthesized to give nanoparticles that were further surface-functionalized with different proteins able to promote crossing through the blood brain barrier for drug delivery to the brain.